Chunhyang

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height="140" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005NX23/reelmoviecriticc">Buy DVD from Amazon.com</A>  </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>Chunhyang </B>***1/2 (R)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Reviewed By George O. Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="545"><div> When you die, become a flower</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Chunhyang: Lee Hy Jung</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Mongryong: Cho Seung Woo</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Wolmae: Kim Sung Nyu</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Governor Byun: Lee Jung Hun</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Pangja: Kim Hak Yong</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Music: Kim Jung Gil</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Director: Im Kwon Taek</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="304" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: Young lovers marry in secret when they learn they will soon be forced to separate. They struggle trying to reunite in spite of differences in social class. Their situation becomes a crisis when a new ruler sentences the woman to death because she will not have sex with him.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> Mongryong (Cho Seung Woo) is the studious son of a provincial governor in 18<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century Korea. He is preparing for state examinations, which once he passes, grant him both manhood and a place of honor in society in his own right. Mongryong wants to "see the world" (at least his corner of it) as part of his development and has his personal servant Pangja (Kim Hak Yong) take him on a tour. While in the countryside he becomes immediately infatuated with Chunhyang (Lee Hy Jung) when he first sees her. During a visit to her home, he learns that she is part royalty because her father was also a governor and her mother was his courtesan (part of a man's harem where women are forced to provide sexual favors and are dismissed on a whim).</div> <bR> <div>  As the relationship develops into passionate love between Mongryong and Chunhyang, they decide to commit to each other by having a secret marriage. Things are going well until the governor gets a new post in the capital city of Seoul, and Mongryong must leave the small town of Namwon. He promises that he will return one day and bring her to live with him publicly as his wife. </div> <bR> <div> While he's in Seoul studying for his exams, Mongryong does not write or communicate with Chunhyang. Her faith and honor are tested when the new Governor, Byun (Lee Jung Hun), wants her to be one of his courtesans. Chunhyang refuses, saying that she is married. He demands that she write a confession of her sin to disobey the governor on a sand tablet. When she defiantly writes "One Love," Governor Byun becomes so angry that he sentences Chunhyang to the "death chair" where she will be flogged until dead. She is beaten harshly on the spot, with the final beating to take place during the celebration of his birthday. </div> <bR> <div> As this date approaches, word reaches the government in Seoul that Governor Byun is unfairly taxing people, and in general making life miserable for them for his personal gain. Mongryong, who has just passed his state exams, is given an undercover assignment to go investigate what is going on. When he arrives in town he is distressed to learn of Chunhyang's fate. His mission is now twofold; save the life of Chunhyang and give Governor Byun his comeuppance.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: In addition to what is an interesting story, <B>how</B> this tale is told on film is unique and enlightening. Kim Jung Gil is a griot (an African term for a storyteller) and folksinger, who introduces the story of Chunhyang and Mongryong in a capella style (other than a drum). He at first appears to be in the 18<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century as you see him on a stage, in costume. As the story progresses, you realize that he is performing for an audience in modern dress that appears to be at a cultural event, perhaps at a local college. </div> <bR> <div> The singing made me feel as if I was in a black southern Baptist church in South Carolina, where the preacher and the congregation are engaged in call and response about a story of young lovers from the Gullah low country islands. Or possibly its more akin to the chanting we equate with Native Americans. In any event, it's easily one of the most powerful ways to tell a folk story that I've ever seen. It takes you to their culture on their terms and provides depth as you see the story as if you were there 300 years ago, overlapping with how the story is perceived today.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> R (sex; violence)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> George O. Singleton © 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="512" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="506"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="506" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>