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Gam Woo-seong, Jung Jin-young, Lee Joon-ik, Kang Sung Yoon, Kam Woo-sung ... see more see more... , Karm Woo-sung , Kang Sung-Yeon , Lee Joon-Gi

South Korean director Lee Joon-ik's feature The King and the Clown has the double distinction of being the highest-grossing film in Korean history at the time of its release and one of the first Korea... read more read more...n commercial films to deal openly and unabashedly with gay themes; it is regarded in many quarters as "the Korean Brokeback Mountain." Adapted from Kim Tae-Woong's play Yi, this period drama concerns two 16th century, Chosun Era clowns: the supremely self-assured Jang-seng (Kam Woo-seong) and transsexual Gong-gil (Lee Jun-gi), who earn a meager living as street performers in Hanyang. Miraculously, their excruciating poverty comes to an end when the tyrannical King Yon-san (Jeong Jin-yeong) catches their act and, delighted, invites them to serve as resident court jesters at his palace. But matters grow increasingly complex and tricky when Yon-san feels a torrent of lust for Gong-gil and attempts to possess the androgynous performer. This elicits unbridled jealousy from Jang-seng and not only sets him on a head-to-head collision course with the king, but threatens to propel Yon-san into full insanity. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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86% liked it

5,675 ratings

Unrated, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Lee Jun-ik

Release Date: December 31, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (416)

  • fb1216165431
    September 10, 2011
    fb1216165431
    The mock of a jester and the descent of a kingdom to insanity, The King And The Clown is an odd fusion of romance, drama, and comedy with style and extravagance. Ruthless.
  • 3niR
    January 26, 2011
    3niR
    I think this movie is way too overrated. And the storyline that is written over here explains 30% of it. I did liked the beginning but it gets boring afterward. None of the jokes made me laugh (it was too lame). But the acting was superb though. I thought Lee Jun Ki was a girl. D... read moreamn. Never seen a guy looked so girly without makeup.
  • ajaymuthecooldevils
    January 28, 2010
    ajaymuthecooldevils
    Well, I don't understand how Korean people loves this movie really really much... I just don't totally understand with what Lee Jun-ik want... He made the story of ruthless king who doesn't look like a king because he is so childish... And the clown themselves, they're not that f... read moreunny... Maybe I have a little laugh in the beginning, but the later I go, more worse that I get.. The story get boring, the king become totally ruthless, he kills every people who is stand in his way... And I thought the Lee Joon-ki factors maybe works for people, but I don't enjoy it...
  • skactopus
    September 22, 2008
    skactopus
    The King and the Clown is overrated and I think this may have to do with the homosexuality part of the theme. I believe this film is banned in China because of this theme and the sexual language that appears.

    You will see the plot of "two clowns being arrested for mocki

    ... read moreng the King and having the chance to save their lives by making the King laugh" in many places. This is actually a little deceiving. This plot describes the first part of the film, but believe me there is more to this one than that. There is the theme of homosexuality seen here and although you will not see it said anywhere, it is definitely implied by the acting and the story. There are no sex scenes in case you are wondering.

    The first 2/3s of this 2 hour picture is slow. There isn't much going on except for the clowns putting on performances that bring out the hidden emotions of the King. The last 40 minutes is where you the learn the real reason for the clowns being there and this is where the story becomes dark and tragic.

    The 3 leads in this film put on good performances. Jun-gi Lee (Lee Joon-ki) is who everybody talks about. He plays one of the most feminist males that you will see in a film. Seriously, he is even more feminist than some women. It is this character that brings out the feminist side in the King.

    There really isn't much to this film unless you enjoy Asian historic dramas. The acting and the story will capture the hearts of dramatic fans.
  • lesleyanorton
    August 16, 2010
    lesleyanorton
    Korean drama set in the 16th century, as two travelling minstrels run away from their brutish troop manager only to end up in the corrupt Royal Court of unstable King Yeonsan. But really its a love story triangle between a man and a woman and a king, except the woman's a man and ... read morethe kings a few sandwiches short of a picnic, and there's no passionate declarations, and there's not even kissing. With brilliant performances from the three leads (man, woman and king). I loved it. .

  • betelgeuse
    August 20, 2009
    betelgeuse
    Gonggil, you're so cute. Lee Jun Ki is terrific, my friends really thought he was a girl. He delivers such a great n convincing performance. Such a good movie, the plot is great, the kiss not a big deal, but pretty good so far.
  • lukelai4ever
    May 20, 2007
    lukelai4ever
    Brilliant masterpiece. Unfortunately outdone by the Host only a year later of attaining highest grossing Korean movie. Lee Jun Ki is so effective at portraying a woman, and the costumes are beautiful.
  • stabino
    April 11, 2007
    stabino
    Too many connections!! I loved it, and I'll have to write a reason why next time. The sets themselves are worth a viewing.
  • hand160
    March 19, 2007
    hand160
    I really LOVED this moive. If it's an emotion then this moive played on it. It was funny but it was also sad. The end was good too, because I didn't know if I wanted to cry or laugh. I was both sad and happy for them.

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Critic Reviews

Jon Popick
September 6, 2006
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy

A little disappointing.

Derek Elley
August 1, 2008
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

September 23, 2006
Globe and Mail

No review available.

October 28, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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  • At the 2006 Baeksang awards Kam Woo Seung planted a kiss on Lee Jun Ki as a joke for the audience.
  • betrayal, love, exploitation, homosexuality, clown, king
  • The close-up of Gong-gil in the green attire riding the horse was actually done on a harness mechanism to illustrate the action of Lee Jun Ki riding a horse.
  • In order to get a role, Lee Jun Ki performed handstands and came up with the idea of the split-legged handstand scene which got him the role of Gong-gil.
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The King and the Clown Trivia

  • He has been a clown, a transvestite, and King of the Britains. Who is he?  Answer »
  • Two performing clowns produce a satirical play mocking the country's ruler, which gets them into a world of trouble with the authorities.  Answer »
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