Credited cast: | |||
Choi Min-sik | ... | Jang Seung-up | |
Sung-Ki Ahn | ... | Kim Byung-Moon (as Sung-kee Ahn) | |
Ho-jeong Yu | ... | Mae-hyang | |
Kim Yeo-Jin | ... | Jin-jong | |
Son Ye-Jin | ... | So-woon | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Jang-soo Bae | ... | Kyunghyang newspaper cultural reporter |
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Tae-hee Kim | ||
Jin-Seo Yoon |
The struggles of an artist. Jang Seung-up (1843-1897), also called Owon, focusing on the years 1882 to 1897, when Korea was in political upheaval, caught between China and Japan, the conservative dynasty dying, and peasant revolt at hand. Jang, born poor, has genius; a merchant, Kim, becomes his patron, finding him a teacher. Jang must convince others that a commoner can have talent, then move beyond his ability to copy old masters and find his own style. He's bedeviled by a temper and alcohol, arguments with patrons as he seeks commissions, and relationships with kisaeng, particularly Mae-hyang, that start and stop. It's the life of a restless spirit producing great art. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
What a movie! I have always liked the Asian style of shooting, and this movie does not disappoint at all! Photography is breath-taking, ranging from amazing landscapes to whirls of colours. The main actor is really realistic in representing the painter (whose paintings are astonishing). The ending is also very well chosen, very poetic. The only remark is that they should have maybe shown a bit more deeply the connection between his inspiration and his abuse of alcohol and women. But altogether this is an excellent film!