Bichunmoo
Encyclopedia
Bichunmoo is a South Korean
martial arts film
written and directed by Kim Young-jun featuring Kim Hee-sun and Shin Hyun-june. Originally released in 2000, it was at the time the most expensive film in Korean history (an honour it soon lost to Musa
).
In 12th-century China
, during Mongol rule, childhood sweethearts Jin-ha and Sullie are separated but vow to reunite. Orphan Jin-ha begins training in the Bichun martial arts and discovers his father was a swordsman murdered by the Mongol army. Meanwhile Sullie's father, a Mongol general, arranges for her to marry a Mongol noble. Believing Jin-ha to be dead, Sullie marries the noble. Recovering from near-death, Jin-ha takes on the persona of bandit Jahalang, and begins an anti-Mongol crusade with the help of his army of warriors. Finally Jin-ha and Sullie are re-united, when Jin-ha's bandit warriors infiltrate Sullie's family manor.
Also Known As: Bicheonmoo, Bichunmoo, Heaven-Flying Dancing
Production Status: Released
Genres: Drama, Romance and Adaptation
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Production Co.: Taewon Entertainment, Cinema Service
Tera Source Venture, KDB Capital, China Film Co-production Corporation, Shanghai Film Studios
Filming Locations: China
on which it was based. Another argument given against the film was the casting choice of Kim Hee-sun, who was perceived as being too modern for a period swordplay film.
Cinema of Korea
Korean cinema encompasses the motion picture industries of North and South Korea. As with all aspects of Korean life during the past century, the film industry has often been at the mercy of political events, from the late Joseon dynasty to the Korean War to domestic governmental interference...
martial arts film
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
written and directed by Kim Young-jun featuring Kim Hee-sun and Shin Hyun-june. Originally released in 2000, it was at the time the most expensive film in Korean history (an honour it soon lost to Musa
Musa (film)
Musa , released as both The Warrior and The Ultimate Warrior in English-speaking countries, is a 2001 South Korean epic film directed by Kim Seong-soo, starring Jung Woo-sung, Ahn Sung-ki, Ju Jin-mo and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi...
).
In 12th-century China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, during Mongol rule, childhood sweethearts Jin-ha and Sullie are separated but vow to reunite. Orphan Jin-ha begins training in the Bichun martial arts and discovers his father was a swordsman murdered by the Mongol army. Meanwhile Sullie's father, a Mongol general, arranges for her to marry a Mongol noble. Believing Jin-ha to be dead, Sullie marries the noble. Recovering from near-death, Jin-ha takes on the persona of bandit Jahalang, and begins an anti-Mongol crusade with the help of his army of warriors. Finally Jin-ha and Sullie are re-united, when Jin-ha's bandit warriors infiltrate Sullie's family manor.
Also Known As: Bicheonmoo, Bichunmoo, Heaven-Flying Dancing
Production Status: Released
Genres: Drama, Romance and Adaptation
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Production Co.: Taewon Entertainment, Cinema Service
Tera Source Venture, KDB Capital, China Film Co-production Corporation, Shanghai Film Studios
Filming Locations: China
Criticism
In spite of its financial success, the film was heavily criticised on its initial release in Korea, primarily due to its alleged disloyalty to the comic bookManhwa
Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
on which it was based. Another argument given against the film was the casting choice of Kim Hee-sun, who was perceived as being too modern for a period swordplay film.