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Yi Hyo-Jeong, Seung-woo Cho, Kim Soung-Nyeu, Jung-hun Lee, Kim Hak-Young ... see more see more... , Lee Hye-eun , Cho Sang-Hyon , Kim Myung-Hwan

Renowned Korean filmmaker Im Kwon Taek offers his own unique take on a classic romantic fable with this 13th century tale of a stunningly beautiful young woman torn between the man she loves and the g... read more read more...overnor she's obligated to marry. The film uses the framing device of a present-day narrator who, accompanied by a drummer, sings the story of Chunhyang in front of a responsive audience. The film flashes back and forth between the singer's presentation and scenes of Mongryong (Cho Seung Woo), a young nobleman who falls captive to the beauty of the commoner Chunhyang (Yi Hyo Jeong). They profess their undying love to each other and elope, soon after which, Mongryong is forced to accompany his father to Seoul for three years. In the interim, a tyrant named Byun (Lee Jung Hun) comes to power in Chunhyang's province and demands that the beauty marry him. She refuses, and Byun schedules her for execution -- just as Mongryong returns to the province to reclaim his true love. Chunhyang made its North American Premiere at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

984 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

42 critics

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Kwon-taek Im

Release Date: December 29, 2000

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DVD Release Date: October 16, 2001

Stats: 56 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (56)

  • fb1144932598
    June 29, 2009
    fb1144932598
    A highly stylized telling of a Korean folk tale from another time concerning love and loyalty. A singer, almost operatic in his delivery, tells most of the tale from a stage in a concert setting and as a voice over to the action. The actors also tell part of the tale in dialogue.... read more Very slow paced, as the action had to fit to the singing, and not the other way around. Intrigue and treachery and brutality and, at last, justice, with a bit of humor mixed in, came together to teach us of this woman's love that cut across the traditional dividing line of class. That love enabled her to bear up under the suffering she experienced as a reward for her loyalty. Beautiful cinematography, breathtaking scenery, and lovely actors were on constant display. At nearly two hours, however, it did begin to get tedious. This simple tale could have been told with less pomp, but then maybe we would not have felt so immersed in Korean culture.
  • Jossepi
    January 24, 2008
    Jossepi
    Korean culture and storyteller in cinema. Ancient story with moral teachings. To be with one love and break every obstacle and boundry.
  • ileo
    December 19, 2007
    ileo
    One of my all-time favorites! Love this movie.
  • nstanosheck
    June 8, 2008
    nstanosheck
    What a beautiful love story. The story is an instant classic, and maybe already a classic in Korea. It is narrated by a singer which makes for a very different type of film as his performance comes in and out during the story.
  • emilioadolfo
    May 4, 2008
    emilioadolfo
    So as to be faithful to the man she loved, and who loved her passionately, she must go through all the circles in Hell.
    As we have heard so many times, no gain without pain.

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Critic Reviews

Geoff Pevere
November 30, 2001
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

A seductively watchable, mythically resonant experience. Full Review

Liam Lacey
November 30, 2001
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A premodern folk tale in a postmodern form that refreshes both the eye and our ideas about storytelling. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
August 15, 2001
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

Im's movie approaches a seething, primitivist beauty that evokes Makhmalbaf and parallels the contrapuntal textual investigations of Resnais. Full Review

May 12, 2001
Hollywood Reporter

Lingers long in the memory, its rich colors and striking images giving off an iridescent afterglow.

Joe Baltake
April 16, 2001
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Here's your chance to savor the work of Im Kwon Taek, the finest living chronicler of Korean culture. Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
February 26, 2001
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Admiration gives way to something like enthrallment. Be patient and you'll see that this picture casts its own peculiar spell. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
February 26, 2001
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

It's a movie charmingly traditional and richly cinematic, and I'm not damning with faint praise when I say it's the best Korean film I've seen.

James Berardinelli
February 12, 2001
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

I enjoyed the film's ripe beauty and even riper folk story. But the appeal of pansori eluded me. Full Review

Bob Graham
February 7, 2001
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

an act of audacious filmmaking by Im, in the midst of what otherwise could have been a straight-ahead romantic fantasy. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 7, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

A landmark film in that it is the first Korean picture to receive regular theatrical release in the U.S., calling attention not only to the world-class talent of Im, but also serving as an introductio... Full Review

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