Sopyonje
Encyclopedia
Sopyonje is a South Korea
n film directed by Im Kwon-taek
in 1993
. Its story tells of a family of traditional Korean pansori
singers trying to make a living in the modern world. The film was originally expected to only draw limited interest, and was released on only one screen in Seoul
. At the height of its popularity, it was shown on only three screens at once in the entire city of over 10 million. Nevertheless it ended up breaking box-office records and became the first Korean film to draw over a million viewers in Seoul alone. When it was released, Sopyonjes success also increased interest in pansori among modern audiences. The film was acclaimed critically, both in South Korea and abroad, getting screened in Cannes Film Festival
and winning six Grand Bell Awards and six Korean Film Critics' Awards.
Im Kwon-taek also used pansori as a narrative tool in his later films Chunhyang
(2000
), based on the popular Korean story Chunhyangga
, and Beyond the Years
(2007
), an informal sequel to Sopyonje.
(a tavern) on a small pass called Soritjae of Boseong County, South Jeolla Province, the early 1960s, Dong-ho in his 30s recalls his past as listening to a measure of pansori
sung by the jumaks owner. He and his sister were raised by the pansori singer Yu-bong, who deals with them harshly in his attempts to make serious artists of them (Yu-bong feels that a truly great pansori artist must suffer). Eventually the boy runs away but the girl stays on. Some critics have stated that this movie glorifies the father's patriarchial power as he seeks to limit his daughter's sexuality.
But most believe that the girl symbolizes South Korea, transcending a history of suffering to achieve greatness.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n film directed by Im Kwon-taek
Im Kwon-taek
Im Kwon-taek is one of South Korea's most renowned film directors. In an active and prolific career, his films have won many domestic and international film festival awards as well as considerable box-office success, and helped bring international attention to the Korean film industry.- Early life...
in 1993
1993 in film
The year 1993 in film involved many significant films, including the blockbuster hits Jurassic Park, The Fugitive and The Firm. -Events:...
. Its story tells of a family of traditional Korean pansori
Pansori
Pansori is a genre of Korean traditional music. It is a vocal and percussional music performed by one sorikkun and one gosu . The term pansori is derived from pan , and sori .- Overview :...
singers trying to make a living in the modern world. The film was originally expected to only draw limited interest, and was released on only one screen in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. At the height of its popularity, it was shown on only three screens at once in the entire city of over 10 million. Nevertheless it ended up breaking box-office records and became the first Korean film to draw over a million viewers in Seoul alone. When it was released, Sopyonjes success also increased interest in pansori among modern audiences. The film was acclaimed critically, both in South Korea and abroad, getting screened in Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
and winning six Grand Bell Awards and six Korean Film Critics' Awards.
Im Kwon-taek also used pansori as a narrative tool in his later films Chunhyang
Chunhyang (2000 film)
Chunhyang is a 2000 Korean film, directed by Im Kwon-taek and starring Lee Hyo-jeong and Jo Seung-woo. It was entered into the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
(2000
2000 in film
The year 2000 in film involved some significant events.The top grosser worldwide was Mission: Impossible II. Domestically in North America, Gladiator won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor ....
), based on the popular Korean story Chunhyangga
Chunhyangga
The Chunhyangga is the most famous Pansori in Korea. The Chunhyangga has delighted all Korean for a century. The Chunhyangga is the best Pansori as musically, literary, and a well-made play....
, and Beyond the Years
Beyond the Years
Beyond the Years is a 2007 South Korean film. Celebrated director Im Kwon-taek's 100th film, it is based on the novel The Wanderer of Seonhakdong, and was presented at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival...
(2007
2007 in film
This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
), an informal sequel to Sopyonje.
Plot
In a jumakJumak
Jumak is a kind of tavern or inn that served alcoholic beverages and food and provided lodging to travellers in old Korean society. It was also called jusa , juga and jupo . It is not certain since when jumak began to exist in history...
(a tavern) on a small pass called Soritjae of Boseong County, South Jeolla Province, the early 1960s, Dong-ho in his 30s recalls his past as listening to a measure of pansori
Pansori
Pansori is a genre of Korean traditional music. It is a vocal and percussional music performed by one sorikkun and one gosu . The term pansori is derived from pan , and sori .- Overview :...
sung by the jumaks owner. He and his sister were raised by the pansori singer Yu-bong, who deals with them harshly in his attempts to make serious artists of them (Yu-bong feels that a truly great pansori artist must suffer). Eventually the boy runs away but the girl stays on. Some critics have stated that this movie glorifies the father's patriarchial power as he seeks to limit his daughter's sexuality.
But most believe that the girl symbolizes South Korea, transcending a history of suffering to achieve greatness.