I finally saw that Korean movie "A Frozen Flower" ("Ssanghwajeom") which caused a furore when it was released at the end of 2008. It made waves because:
1. it's about a touchy topic -- homosexuality and bisexuality
2. it has many explicit sex scenes -- between man and man, and between man and woman
3. it broke box-office records in Korea (maybe because of 1 and 2)
For the uninitiated, here's a brief synopsis of the plot of the movie:
"A Frozen Flower" is a historical drama set in the late Goryeo Dynasty and takes its title from a song of that era which describes the sexual relationships between men and women. At that time the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea is under the virtual rule of the Yuan Dynasty of China. Goryeo's King (played by Ju Jin-Mo) is under pressure to produce an heir to the throne. But he cannot have sexual relations with a woman. He has been carrying on a romantic liaison with his chief bodyguard Hong Lim (Jo In-Sung). To stave off his political opponents who are clamouring to appoint a Crown Prince (since the King is childless), the King asks Hong Lim to sleep with the Queen (Song Ji-Hyo) so as to produce a royal heir. What follows is of course the inevitable eternal triangle, with Hong Lim and the Queen falling in love after making love on the King's orders, and the King getting increasingly angry and jealous. The ending is predictably tragic, with the King and Hong Lim killing each other in a kind of duel.
You may be wondering by now -- "Why am I reading this on a Jo Hyun-Jae blog? What has this got to do with JHJ?" Nothing, except that as I was watching the movie, I kept wondering what it would be like if JHJ were playing either role. JHJ once said in an interview that he watched a lot of movies, both Korean and foreign, and he often projected himself onto the roles -- "How would I play this?" So I was thinking: Which role would JHJ play best -- the King or the bodyguard? And in my opinion? Both! JHJ could play both roles.
First, the King. Everybody who has seen JHJ in "Seo Dong Yo" and as the Crown Prince in "Great Ambition" (Dae Mang) knows he looks every inch the king in regal robes. In "A Frozen Flower", Ju Jin-Mo handles his role superbly, for which he won the Best Leading Actor award at the 45th Baeksang Arts Award (2008). His role is not as sympathetic as that of Jo In-Sung's, but it is more complex and subtle, and Ju produced a nuanced performance. JHJ may be a little young for this role, but he has the depth and discipline to deliver.
JHJ is perhaps more suited to play Hong Lim. This young man is the commander of Kunryongwe -- personal bodyguards of the King, young boys whom the king personally selects and grooms and keeps close to him in the palace. Hong is devoted to the King, until the Queen comes between them. He is a reluctant participant in the sex scheme; he is only doing the King's bidding. But once he discovers the pleasures of heterosexual love, he betrays the King and finally kills him. Of course it's not as simple as this, but that's the impression I get the way Jo In-Sung portrays Hong Lim. Jo was contracted to play Hong Lim in early 2007 and began training for his role, learning martial arts, fencing, and horse-riding. He is pretty good in all these, but he should have been given some training in acting. He fails to express the conflict in the character who must have been torn between his loyalty/love for the King and his desire/love for the Queen. Now JHJ, I'm convinced, (and I am of course prejudiced) can convey the internal struggle, the emotional turmoil, the passion boiling beneath the surface. If he can portray the conflict in Andrea who is torn between his love for God and his love for a woman in his first starring role in "Love Letter", he will have no problem handling the role of Hong Lim. And because JHJ is so much handsomer than Jo In-Sung (and Jo isn't at all bad-looking), the King's attachment to him would be so much more convincing.
I read that the director Yoo Ha wanted to do something different from his previous works, so he opted for a historical melodrama which was a new challenge for him. He also stated that the film was "a love story between men." In case we don't get the message, Yoo inserted a very graphic sex scene between the two male actors -- the two naked men kissing eagerly and greedily on a bed -- for a very long time! Now I'm a film buff and I've seen such scenes before, so I'm not shocked, but I'm embarrassed -- because the lovers look like two hungry dogs fighting over a bone to me. In fact, this scene is not necessary at all. Just showing the two in bed together already speaks volumes. When I was watching that scene, other movies about homosexual love came to mind -- "Brokeback Mountain", "Lan Yu" (Chinese movie), and especially that Merchant/Ivory masterpiece "Maurice". In order not to revolt the general audience, love-making between two men must be emotional and touching. I'm sorry to say while watching Ju and Jo wrestling, I kept wishing it would end soon.
This is at least an isolated scene, but the love-making between Hong Lim and the Queen is depicted in great detail and at full length every single time. I'm not prudish (well, maybe I am) but after the first time, is it really necessary to make us play voyeurs to their extensive and excessive love-making? Does the entire sex act have to be played out on the screen every single time? I'm sorry to say I find that rather boring. Hong Lim and the Queen say they love one another, but they have not spoken ten words between them. Every time they see each other, they have sex. Are they confusing love with love-making? Since this movie did so well at the box office, obviously I'm the only one who has problems with this issue. But just compare this aspect of "A Frozen Flower" with Ang Lee's "Lust/Caution", in which the controversial sex scenes are fewer and farther apart (and shorter) but each one is an integral part of the plot. Quantity is not quality. More is not better.
Having written all that, I've come to the conclusion JHJ MUST NOT PLAY EITHER ROLE! Simple reason -- I don't want him to be exposed to the whole world! Jo In-Sung especially leaves nothing to the imagination. He is naked half of the time, not half of the scenes, but time-wise the whole of him is exposed for several minutes at a time. I respect these Korean actors for the sacrifice they make for art. I remember Bae Yoon Jong in "Untold Scandal" also bares all in several scenes. No, JHJ cannot play either role in "A Frozen Flower", not because he does not have the acting ability, but because the director's conception of the roles demand that the actors get too physical for my liking. Love between men and between a man and a woman can be portrayed without scenes in bed, or in a library. (Several of the sexual encounters between Hong Lim and the Queen take place in the palace library.) What is it about libraries that directors find so "sexy"? I'm thinking of "Atonement" in which the 13-year-old narrator stumbling onto her older sister and the son of a servant making love in their library sets in motion the tragedy that ruins all their lives.
Has anyone seen "A Frozen Flower"? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Or am I just raving by myself?
P.S. News reports of Jo In-Sung in Korean newspapers on 5/12/09:
Jo entered the Korean military on April 6 and, like all other new recruits, underwent five weeks of military training. Within one month he was hospitalized twice: first for stomach ulcer a few days after his enlistment, and second, on April 29 for an injury to his right shoulder. On May 18 he will be assigned to the Air Force band. We wish Jo In-Sung a speedy recovery and two uneventful years in the military.
1. it's about a touchy topic -- homosexuality and bisexuality
2. it has many explicit sex scenes -- between man and man, and between man and woman
3. it broke box-office records in Korea (maybe because of 1 and 2)
For the uninitiated, here's a brief synopsis of the plot of the movie:
"A Frozen Flower" is a historical drama set in the late Goryeo Dynasty and takes its title from a song of that era which describes the sexual relationships between men and women. At that time the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea is under the virtual rule of the Yuan Dynasty of China. Goryeo's King (played by Ju Jin-Mo) is under pressure to produce an heir to the throne. But he cannot have sexual relations with a woman. He has been carrying on a romantic liaison with his chief bodyguard Hong Lim (Jo In-Sung). To stave off his political opponents who are clamouring to appoint a Crown Prince (since the King is childless), the King asks Hong Lim to sleep with the Queen (Song Ji-Hyo) so as to produce a royal heir. What follows is of course the inevitable eternal triangle, with Hong Lim and the Queen falling in love after making love on the King's orders, and the King getting increasingly angry and jealous. The ending is predictably tragic, with the King and Hong Lim killing each other in a kind of duel.
You may be wondering by now -- "Why am I reading this on a Jo Hyun-Jae blog? What has this got to do with JHJ?" Nothing, except that as I was watching the movie, I kept wondering what it would be like if JHJ were playing either role. JHJ once said in an interview that he watched a lot of movies, both Korean and foreign, and he often projected himself onto the roles -- "How would I play this?" So I was thinking: Which role would JHJ play best -- the King or the bodyguard? And in my opinion? Both! JHJ could play both roles.
First, the King. Everybody who has seen JHJ in "Seo Dong Yo" and as the Crown Prince in "Great Ambition" (Dae Mang) knows he looks every inch the king in regal robes. In "A Frozen Flower", Ju Jin-Mo handles his role superbly, for which he won the Best Leading Actor award at the 45th Baeksang Arts Award (2008). His role is not as sympathetic as that of Jo In-Sung's, but it is more complex and subtle, and Ju produced a nuanced performance. JHJ may be a little young for this role, but he has the depth and discipline to deliver.
JHJ is perhaps more suited to play Hong Lim. This young man is the commander of Kunryongwe -- personal bodyguards of the King, young boys whom the king personally selects and grooms and keeps close to him in the palace. Hong is devoted to the King, until the Queen comes between them. He is a reluctant participant in the sex scheme; he is only doing the King's bidding. But once he discovers the pleasures of heterosexual love, he betrays the King and finally kills him. Of course it's not as simple as this, but that's the impression I get the way Jo In-Sung portrays Hong Lim. Jo was contracted to play Hong Lim in early 2007 and began training for his role, learning martial arts, fencing, and horse-riding. He is pretty good in all these, but he should have been given some training in acting. He fails to express the conflict in the character who must have been torn between his loyalty/love for the King and his desire/love for the Queen. Now JHJ, I'm convinced, (and I am of course prejudiced) can convey the internal struggle, the emotional turmoil, the passion boiling beneath the surface. If he can portray the conflict in Andrea who is torn between his love for God and his love for a woman in his first starring role in "Love Letter", he will have no problem handling the role of Hong Lim. And because JHJ is so much handsomer than Jo In-Sung (and Jo isn't at all bad-looking), the King's attachment to him would be so much more convincing.
I read that the director Yoo Ha wanted to do something different from his previous works, so he opted for a historical melodrama which was a new challenge for him. He also stated that the film was "a love story between men." In case we don't get the message, Yoo inserted a very graphic sex scene between the two male actors -- the two naked men kissing eagerly and greedily on a bed -- for a very long time! Now I'm a film buff and I've seen such scenes before, so I'm not shocked, but I'm embarrassed -- because the lovers look like two hungry dogs fighting over a bone to me. In fact, this scene is not necessary at all. Just showing the two in bed together already speaks volumes. When I was watching that scene, other movies about homosexual love came to mind -- "Brokeback Mountain", "Lan Yu" (Chinese movie), and especially that Merchant/Ivory masterpiece "Maurice". In order not to revolt the general audience, love-making between two men must be emotional and touching. I'm sorry to say while watching Ju and Jo wrestling, I kept wishing it would end soon.
This is at least an isolated scene, but the love-making between Hong Lim and the Queen is depicted in great detail and at full length every single time. I'm not prudish (well, maybe I am) but after the first time, is it really necessary to make us play voyeurs to their extensive and excessive love-making? Does the entire sex act have to be played out on the screen every single time? I'm sorry to say I find that rather boring. Hong Lim and the Queen say they love one another, but they have not spoken ten words between them. Every time they see each other, they have sex. Are they confusing love with love-making? Since this movie did so well at the box office, obviously I'm the only one who has problems with this issue. But just compare this aspect of "A Frozen Flower" with Ang Lee's "Lust/Caution", in which the controversial sex scenes are fewer and farther apart (and shorter) but each one is an integral part of the plot. Quantity is not quality. More is not better.
Having written all that, I've come to the conclusion JHJ MUST NOT PLAY EITHER ROLE! Simple reason -- I don't want him to be exposed to the whole world! Jo In-Sung especially leaves nothing to the imagination. He is naked half of the time, not half of the scenes, but time-wise the whole of him is exposed for several minutes at a time. I respect these Korean actors for the sacrifice they make for art. I remember Bae Yoon Jong in "Untold Scandal" also bares all in several scenes. No, JHJ cannot play either role in "A Frozen Flower", not because he does not have the acting ability, but because the director's conception of the roles demand that the actors get too physical for my liking. Love between men and between a man and a woman can be portrayed without scenes in bed, or in a library. (Several of the sexual encounters between Hong Lim and the Queen take place in the palace library.) What is it about libraries that directors find so "sexy"? I'm thinking of "Atonement" in which the 13-year-old narrator stumbling onto her older sister and the son of a servant making love in their library sets in motion the tragedy that ruins all their lives.
Has anyone seen "A Frozen Flower"? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Or am I just raving by myself?
P.S. News reports of Jo In-Sung in Korean newspapers on 5/12/09:
Jo entered the Korean military on April 6 and, like all other new recruits, underwent five weeks of military training. Within one month he was hospitalized twice: first for stomach ulcer a few days after his enlistment, and second, on April 29 for an injury to his right shoulder. On May 18 he will be assigned to the Air Force band. We wish Jo In-Sung a speedy recovery and two uneventful years in the military.
Well, I just watched the movie most recently.
ReplyDeleteI had myself very well prepared for an R-rated movie. However in the end, I think the movie could very well be fit into the "X rated" category.
Nevertheless, I like the plot. I always find the "bare it all" way of telling a story about earthly desires fascinating. Watching all the struggling, and calculating end up in vain is not something interesting of course, but it does shed some light on the meaning of love, of life itself. Moreover, I find the movie's setting and costume beautiful.
After watching the film, I have been pondering over the same question, ie, which role I would like to see Hyun Jae play. Both of the leading roles are interesting and are different from the roles Hyun Jae played before. IF most of the "viewer discretion is advised" scene could be removed from the movie, I would like to have Hyun Jae play the role of Hong Lim. This is a character torn apart by his loyalty to the King and his desire for the Queen. The actor's ability is greatly challenged as he can only show those emotional turmoil inside of the character by subtle change of facial expression, by the most slight change of expression in his eyes, especially when he was in front of the jealousy King. I agree with you, I think Hyun Jae can play this role much better than Jo In-Sung, although I believe Jo In-Sung to be a very good actor in his own right.
As for the King, Hyun Jae can consider such role in the future.
One last word about Korean TV dramas and movies in general. It is just my own observation. I find it interesting that most of the Korean TV dramas are so "pure" that there are very few kisses and touches among characters even when the plot calls for one. Yet when it comes to R-rated movies, sometimes it can be violent and sexual to the extend that it becomes unbearable. At lease in this movie, both are overdone.
Yes, "A Frozen Flower" is a very well-made movie in all respects. The sets and costumes are especially impressive (better than "Seo Dong Yo", my husband says, and I have to reluctantly agree with him. But then it has a budget of $10 million - US$, not Korean won!)
ReplyDeleteI agree with your observation, Shirley, about the lack of kisses, etc. in Korean TV dramas and the excessive sexual trysts in their movies (starring famous actors, so not some underground adult film.) What is shown at home in the evening cannot be X-rated; there are children to be considered. What is shown in the cinema is a free-for-all, as long as you are willing to pay. As long as the plot calls for it, I think bare buttocks and all are OK. But if there is the slightest hint that it's an indulgence, then I feel the artistry of the film is compromised.
I agree that there are too many love-making scenes. The love among the King, Hom Lim and the Queen are not touching.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you make of the ending? The dying Hong Lim, after he sees the Queen (whom he thought has been killed by the King), turns his head (such agony to see him make the effort with his last breath!) to face the King. There they are, the two of them, staring at each other in the throes of death (actually the King is already dead, but his eyes are still open.) Does Hong Lim then realize, too late, that his real love is the King?
ReplyDelete