The King and the Clown
Encyclopedia
The King and the Clown is a 2005
South Korea
n film, adapted from the 2000 Korean play titled Yi ("You") about Yeonsangun of Joseon
, a Joseon dynasty
king who falls in love with a court clown who mocks him. The movie is based on a small passage from the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty that briefly mentions the king's favorite clown. Production costs were relatively modest for a Korean film, approximately $4.5 million dollars. With box office receipts of $85 million, it was the highest-grossing Korean film from 2005.
The movie is referred to by various names. It is sometimes known as The King's Men or The King's Man (the literal translation of the Korean title to English) and All the King's Men (working title). In Chinese, the title is "王的男人" or "王和小丑", and in Japanese, it is known as "王の男". It is also known as "The Royal Jester" in English, as the movie's English translator found it more fitting than the original title.
This film was chosen by Korea as its submission for the Oscars in the best foreign film category.
, two male street clowns and tightrope walkers, Jangsaeng (Gam Wu-seong
) and Gonggil (Lee Jun Ki
), are part of an entertainer troupe. Their manager prostitutes the beautiful Gonggil to rich customers, and Jangsaeng sickens of this practice. After Gonggil kills the manager in defense of Jangsaeng, the pair flees to Seoul, where they form a new group with three other street performers.
Together the group comes up with a skit mocking some members of the Royal Court
, including the king and his new concubine Jang Noksu. After they are arrested for treason, Jangsaeng makes a deal with Choseon, who turns out to be one of the King's servants, to either make the king laugh at their skit or to be executed. They perform their skit for the king, but the three minor performers are too terrified to perform well. Gonggil and Jangsaeng barely save themselves with one last joke at the king, who laughs and then makes them part of his Court. The King falls for the effeminate Gonggil, whom he calls to his private chambers often to perform finger puppet shows. Jangsaeng becomes jealous of this relationship (though it is never explicitly stated that there is anything more than friendship between him and Gonggil - this topic of friendship/love has been much debated by film reviewers). Meanwhile, the King becomes more and more unstable. He makes the clowns perform a skit depicting how his mother, the favorite concubine of the former king, was forced to take poison after being betrayed by other jealous concubines. The King then slaughters these concubines at the end of the play. Jangsaeng asks Gonggil to leave with him and the gang at once before the King kills them too during one of his homicidal fits. Gonggil, who initially sympathized with the King, begs the tyrant to give him his freedom but his pleas fall on deaf ears.
The king's main concubine, Jang Noksu, becomes enraged by the attention the king has been lavishing on Gonggil. The Council Members try to have him killed during a hunting trip, resulting in the death of one of the members of the street performing team. Days after the hunting trip, there is a kiss between the king and Gonggil (which has caused much buzz and excitement among film reviewers). Then, Jang Noksu tries to have him jailed by having flyers run in Gonggil's handwriting insulting the king severely. Jangsaeng takes the blame for the crime for which Gonggil has been falsely accused and is imprisoned.
Choseon secretly releases Jangsaeng, telling him that he should forget Gonggil and leave the palace. But Jangsaeng ignores the advice and returns to walk on his tightrope across palace rooftops, this time openly and loudly mocking the king. The King shoots arrows at him while Gonggil tries in vain to stop him. Jangsaeng falls and is caught, and has his eyes seared with burning iron as punishment before being thrown into prison again. Gonggil attempts suicide, but his life is saved by the palace doctors. The king has Jangsaeng walk his tightrope blind. As Jangsaeng tells the story of his and Gonggil's trials and tribulations while balancing on the rope, Gonggil runs out to join him. They have a conversation filled with much hidden meaning and significance. Gonggil asks Jangsaeng what he would like to return as in his next life and Jangsaeng replies that he would still choose to be a clown. Gonggil answers that he has found his King and he too would return as nothing else but a clown.
Throughout the film, the tyranny of the king and corruption of his Courts is revealed. At the very end there is a popular uprising resulting in an attack on the palace, and as people storm the court, Jangsaeng and Gonggil jump up from the rope together, and Jangsaeng tosses away his fan, signifying the death of both which is never actually shown in the film. The last scene is a happy one where Jangsaeng and Gonggil appear to be reunited with their clowning troupe, including the friend who died earlier during the hunting incident. The whole company jokes, sings and dances, as they all walk away cheerfully into the distance. http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=62303
, 12.3 million people saw the film, and it grossed $85 million, making it the highest-grossing South Korean film to that point. (In the summer of 2006, the film The Host
surpassed that record, with 13 million box office admissions.) Some were surprised by the film's massive commercial success, considering its focus on traditional arts and its homosexual themes, neither of which tend to draw large box office crowds. It also lacked the high profile celebrities that contribute to the success of many other Korean movies.
Although popular in South Korea and eventually released in Taiwan
, the movie was first banned from screening
in the People's Republic of China
. After a year-long embargo, it premiered in Shanghai
on 28 October 2006, and was released on DVD
in China.
http://www.wang-ui-namja.com/references.htm#Awards
2005 in film
- Highest-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 United States in 2005...
South Korea
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, adapted from the 2000 Korean play titled Yi ("You") about Yeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsan-gun , born Yi Yung, was the 10th king of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Seongjong by his second wife, Lady Yoon. He is often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon Dynasty, notorious for launching two bloody purges of the seonbi elite...
, a Joseon dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
king who falls in love with a court clown who mocks him. The movie is based on a small passage from the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty that briefly mentions the king's favorite clown. Production costs were relatively modest for a Korean film, approximately $4.5 million dollars. With box office receipts of $85 million, it was the highest-grossing Korean film from 2005.
The movie is referred to by various names. It is sometimes known as The King's Men or The King's Man (the literal translation of the Korean title to English) and All the King's Men (working title). In Chinese, the title is "王的男人" or "王和小丑", and in Japanese, it is known as "王の男". It is also known as "The Royal Jester" in English, as the movie's English translator found it more fitting than the original title.
This film was chosen by Korea as its submission for the Oscars in the best foreign film category.
Synopsis
Set in the early 16th century during the reign of King YeonsanYeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsan-gun , born Yi Yung, was the 10th king of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Seongjong by his second wife, Lady Yoon. He is often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon Dynasty, notorious for launching two bloody purges of the seonbi elite...
, two male street clowns and tightrope walkers, Jangsaeng (Gam Wu-seong
Gam Wu-seong
Kam Wu-seong is a South Korean film actor. He achieved critical acclaim for his portrayal in The King and the Clown of a court acrobat serving a despotic king.He had a major in Oriental painting of Seoul National University....
) and Gonggil (Lee Jun Ki
Lee Jun Ki
Lee Jun Ki is a South Korean actor, model and singer, who Koreans regard as a quintessential kkonminam idol. He rose to fame as Gong-gil in The King and the Clown...
), are part of an entertainer troupe. Their manager prostitutes the beautiful Gonggil to rich customers, and Jangsaeng sickens of this practice. After Gonggil kills the manager in defense of Jangsaeng, the pair flees to Seoul, where they form a new group with three other street performers.
Together the group comes up with a skit mocking some members of the Royal Court
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
, including the king and his new concubine Jang Noksu. After they are arrested for treason, Jangsaeng makes a deal with Choseon, who turns out to be one of the King's servants, to either make the king laugh at their skit or to be executed. They perform their skit for the king, but the three minor performers are too terrified to perform well. Gonggil and Jangsaeng barely save themselves with one last joke at the king, who laughs and then makes them part of his Court. The King falls for the effeminate Gonggil, whom he calls to his private chambers often to perform finger puppet shows. Jangsaeng becomes jealous of this relationship (though it is never explicitly stated that there is anything more than friendship between him and Gonggil - this topic of friendship/love has been much debated by film reviewers). Meanwhile, the King becomes more and more unstable. He makes the clowns perform a skit depicting how his mother, the favorite concubine of the former king, was forced to take poison after being betrayed by other jealous concubines. The King then slaughters these concubines at the end of the play. Jangsaeng asks Gonggil to leave with him and the gang at once before the King kills them too during one of his homicidal fits. Gonggil, who initially sympathized with the King, begs the tyrant to give him his freedom but his pleas fall on deaf ears.
The king's main concubine, Jang Noksu, becomes enraged by the attention the king has been lavishing on Gonggil. The Council Members try to have him killed during a hunting trip, resulting in the death of one of the members of the street performing team. Days after the hunting trip, there is a kiss between the king and Gonggil (which has caused much buzz and excitement among film reviewers). Then, Jang Noksu tries to have him jailed by having flyers run in Gonggil's handwriting insulting the king severely. Jangsaeng takes the blame for the crime for which Gonggil has been falsely accused and is imprisoned.
Choseon secretly releases Jangsaeng, telling him that he should forget Gonggil and leave the palace. But Jangsaeng ignores the advice and returns to walk on his tightrope across palace rooftops, this time openly and loudly mocking the king. The King shoots arrows at him while Gonggil tries in vain to stop him. Jangsaeng falls and is caught, and has his eyes seared with burning iron as punishment before being thrown into prison again. Gonggil attempts suicide, but his life is saved by the palace doctors. The king has Jangsaeng walk his tightrope blind. As Jangsaeng tells the story of his and Gonggil's trials and tribulations while balancing on the rope, Gonggil runs out to join him. They have a conversation filled with much hidden meaning and significance. Gonggil asks Jangsaeng what he would like to return as in his next life and Jangsaeng replies that he would still choose to be a clown. Gonggil answers that he has found his King and he too would return as nothing else but a clown.
Throughout the film, the tyranny of the king and corruption of his Courts is revealed. At the very end there is a popular uprising resulting in an attack on the palace, and as people storm the court, Jangsaeng and Gonggil jump up from the rope together, and Jangsaeng tosses away his fan, signifying the death of both which is never actually shown in the film. The last scene is a happy one where Jangsaeng and Gonggil appear to be reunited with their clowning troupe, including the friend who died earlier during the hunting incident. The whole company jokes, sings and dances, as they all walk away cheerfully into the distance. http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=62303
Reaction
In South KoreaSouth 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...
, 12.3 million people saw the film, and it grossed $85 million, making it the highest-grossing South Korean film to that point. (In the summer of 2006, the film The Host
The Host (film)
The Host is a 2006 South Korean monster film, which also contains elements of comedy and drama films. The film was directed by Bong Joon-ho, who co-wrote the screenplay, along with Baek Chul-hyun....
surpassed that record, with 13 million box office admissions.) Some were surprised by the film's massive commercial success, considering its focus on traditional arts and its homosexual themes, neither of which tend to draw large box office crowds. It also lacked the high profile celebrities that contribute to the success of many other Korean movies.
Although popular in South Korea and eventually released in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, the movie was first banned from screening
Film screening
A film screening is the displaying of a motion picture or film, generally referring to a special showing as part of a film's production and release cycle...
in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. After a year-long embargo, it premiered in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
on 28 October 2006, and was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in China.
Cast
- Kam Wu-seong as Jangsaeng
- Jeong Jin-yeongJeong Jin-yeongJeong Jin-yeong , is a South Korean actor best-known for his role in the hugely successful The King and the Clown.-Filmography:*Green Fish...
as King Yeonsan - Lee Jun KiLee Jun KiLee Jun Ki is a South Korean actor, model and singer, who Koreans regard as a quintessential kkonminam idol. He rose to fame as Gong-gil in The King and the Clown...
as Gonggil - Kang Seong Yeon as Jang Noksu
- Nicholas Lee as Dong Nae Guji
- Taejin Lee as Dong Nae Babo
Release Dates
- South Korea: December 29, 2005
- Taiwan: May 12, 2006 (Theatre Release)
- SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
: June 22, 2006 (Theatre Release) - CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
: September 7, 2006 (Vancouver/Toronto Film Festival) - JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
: October 21, 2006 (Tokyo Film Festival) / December 9, 2006 (Theatre Release) - Shanghai: October 28, 2006
- United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
: October 29, 2006 (London Film Festival) - South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
: November 14, 2006 (Cape Town Film Festival) - New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
: December 1, 2006 (Film Festival) - United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
: January 3, 2007 (Los Angeles) http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0492835/releaseinfo - ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
: March 30, 2007 (Florence Film Festival) - FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
: April 1, 2007 (Deauville Film Festival) - Expected Theatre Release in September 2007
43rd Daejong Film Festival
- Best Film- The King and the Clown
- Best Director- Lee Jun-ik
- Best Script/Scenario- Choi Seok Hwan
- Best Cinematography- Ji Gil Woong
- Best Leading Actor- Gam Woo Seong
- Best New Actor- Lee Jun Ki
- Best Supporting Actor- Yoo Hae Jin
- Most Popular Actor- Lee Jun Ki
- Most Popular Actress- Kang Seong Yeon
- Most Popular Actor Overseas- Lee Jun Ki
42nd Baeksang (Paeksang) Film Festival Arts Awards 2006
- Best New Actor- Lee Jun Ki
- Judge's Special Film Awards- The King and the Clown
14th Chunsa Film Festival 2006
- Best Leading Actor- Gam Woo Seong
- Best Supporting Actor- Jang Hang Seon
27th Blue Dragon Film Awards 2006
- Best Music- Lee Byong Woo
- Most Popular Stars- Lee Jun Ki & Kang Sung Yeon
- Best On-Screen Performing Couple Award- Gam Woo Seong & Lee Jun Ki
Cape Town World Cinema Festival (CTWCF) 2006
- Best Feature Film Award- The King and the Clown
- Best Screenplay- Choi Suk Hwan & Kim Tae Woong
9th Festival Du Film Asiatique De Deauville (France) 2007
- Lotus Du Jury (Grand Prix Jury Prize)- The King and the Clown
http://www.wang-ui-namja.com/references.htm#Awards
Soundtrack (OST)
- 01.가려진 Vocal 장재형 (장생테마) --- "Veiled," Vocals by Jang Jae-Hyeong (Theme of Jang-Seng)
- 02.프롤로그 - 먼길 ---------------- "Prologue - Long Roads"
- 03.각시탈 ------------------------ "Gak-shi Tal (Mask of a Woman)"
- 04.돌아올 수 없는 ------------------ "Cannot Return"
- 05.너 거기 있니? 나 여기 있어. ------ "Are you over there? I am over here."
- 06.세상속으로 -------------------- "Into the World"
- 07.위험한 제의 하나 --------------- "Dangerous Suggestion Number One"
- 08.행복한 광대들 ------------------ "The Happy Clowns"
- 09.내가 왕이 맞느냐 ---------------- "Am I the King or not"
- 10.위험한 제의 둘 ------------------ "Dangerous Suggestion Number Two"
- 11.꿈꾸는 광대들 ------------------ "The Dreaming Clowns"
- 12.수청 -------------------------- "Serve Maiden"
- 13.인형놀이 ----------------------- "Playing with Dolls"
- 14.연정 -------------------------- "Romantic Emotions"
- 15.그림자놀이 --------------------- "Playing with Shadows"
- 16.피적삼의 울음소리 --------------- "The Cry of Rags"
- 17.광대사냥 ----------------------- "Clown Hunt"
- 18.광대의 죽음 -------------------- "Death of a Clown"
- 19.어서 쏴 ------------------------ "Shoot Now"
- 20.질투 --------------------------- "Envy"
- 21.장생의 분노 --------------------- "The Fury of Jang-Seng"
- 22.내가 썼소 ----------------------- "I wrote it."
- 23.애원 ---------------------------- "Plea"
- 24.장생의 외침 --------------------- "The Yell of Jang-Seng"
- 25.눈먼장생 ------------------------ "Jang-Seng the Blind"
- 26.자궁속으로 ---------------------- "Into the Womb"
- 27.반정의 북소리 ------------------- "Ban-Jeong's Sounds of Drumming"
- 28.반허공 ------------------------- "Mid-air"
- 29.에필로그 - 돌아오는 길 ----------- "Epilogue - The Homeward Road"
- 30.반허공 Guitar Version ---------- "Mid-air" Guitar Version
External links
- Official Website (Taiwan)
- Official Website
- Review at koreanfilm.org
- Preview TIFF 2006 at Discovery: 2006 Toronto Film Festival, September 7, 2006
- China bans 'King and the Clown'
- OST (page translated from Chinese)
- Awards