Painted Fire (2002) Chihwaseon (original title)

Director:

Kwon-taek Im

Writers:

Kwon-taek Im
Yong-ok Kim
(more)

Release Date:

10 May 2002 (South Korea)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The Life of Painter Jang Seung-up

Plot:

In a time of political and social unrest in 19th century Korea, an uncouth, self-taught painter explores his natural talent amidst the repressive world around him.

Plot Keywords:

Korea | Artist | Dying | Kisaeng | Japan

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Min-sik Choi	...	Jang Seung-up
Sung-kee Ahn	...	Kim Byung-Moon
Ho-jeong Yu	...	Mae-hyang
Yeo-jin Kim	...	Jin-jong
Ye-jin Son	...	So-woon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jin-seo Yun

Directed by
Kwon-taek Im

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Kwon-taek Im
Yong-ok Kim
Byung-sam Min

Produced by
Woo-Suk Kang	....	executive producer
Michael Kim	....	executive producer
Ji-seung Lee	....	associate producer
Tae-won Lee	....	producer

Original Music by
Young-dong Kim

Cinematography by
Il-sung Jung

Film Editing by
Sun-duk Park		(as Seon-deok Park)

Art Direction by
Byung-do Joo

Costume Design by
Ki-chul Kim
Hye-ran Lee

Sound Department
Choong-Hwan Lee	....	sound

Production Companies

• Taehung Pictures

Distributors

• Kino International (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Espace Sarou (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Kino Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• BIM Distribuzione (????) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Pathé (????) (France) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

"Chihwaseon" - South Korea (original title)
"Strokes of Fire" - International (English title)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

France:U | Hong Kong:III | South Korea:12 (cut) | South Korea:18 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:Unrated | UK:15 | Japan:R-18 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Singapore:R(A) | Mexico:B15 | Canada:G (Quebec)

Company:

Taehung Pictures

Trivia:

Chosen by "Telerama" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2002 (#10)

Here is The Greatest Film ever made about the Life of A Painter

Wow, What a wonderful film-making! Mr. Im has done it, again!

His last work, ChunHayang (2000) was a great film, but this one is even greater. Selected as an official feature film in the Canne Festival for the second time in a two-year row, this 66 years old director is getting better and better at what he is making of with a Korean culture.

Simply, Chihwaseon is about a great Korean painter, '(Ohwon) JANG, Seung-Up' who was considered as a prodigy in the late Nineteenth century. The basic story of this film tells the life of Jang, Seung-up, and the historical background of his time. He was an orphan, but in his teens, he was picked up by a noble man, called, Kim, Byung-Moon. This Mr.Kim becomes a mentor of Jang as well as life-long friendship, and continues to support his great talent that he knew in the first place. With Jang's great effort and natural talent, his fame grows faster and faster as the strength of his country, Korea falls down.

Jang's personality portrayed in the film is very complicated, and one of the best actors in Korea, Choi, Min-sik goes deep inside of Jang's soul. Suffering eyes reveal the struggle of a great artist's life. He is very serious sometimes, but all of sudden, he changes to a wild maniac. He drinks like an alcoholic, and sleeps with courtesans anytime. Even, he said in the movie, "without an alcohol and a woman, I can't draw. (An alcohol and women are my only inspirations)" In the peak of the fame, to develope his own style, he travels all around the country, and never gives up his pride as an artist for the authority or money. I don't want to give out every details, but I think you surely did get some ideas about the film.

The most amazing thing about this film is a cinematography. It is just so breath-taking how they captured every beauty of landscapes. Yes, each scene is like a work of Jang's painting. And the script is perfect, too. It mainly deals a deeper meaning of what makes a true artist. For example, Kim advices to Jang in the movie that 'before one holds a paintbrush, one has to set an aim in life'. This is very moving and inspiring line, and there are many more.

Go See this Film if you are going to be in the Canne Festival.

Chihwasun will be the greatest film ever made that deals with the life of a painter in film history.