Message from lchoi

Chunhyang is a great film directed by Im Kwon Taek.
It is Im Kwon Taek's 97th film and he is a very popular director in Korea who have won almost every possible film awards in that region not to mention numerous other international film festival awards/recognitions.

Chunhyang is a beautiful folktale of love, loyalty and trust.
The story takes place in 18th century Korea.
Upon watching the first few minutes you might wonder what is going on.
There is a gentlemen singing to the a modern audience with his partner playing the Korean drum.
The story then unfolds in a opera style (pansori) to tell the tale of Chunhyang.
Chunhyang is a beautiful daughter of a courtesan mistress.
The Governor's son, Mongryong, of Namwon is studying and waiting for his invitation to Seoul to become a royal official.
As he is studying, he finds the stunning Chunhyang to be witty and beautiful.
The son is torn between following in the footsteps of his father or to follow his heart.
Eventually, they are secretly married and must remain secret until he has passed the exam and proved himself as a royal official.
As he is away from his secret bride, Chunhyang is called to be the new Governor's courtesan, but she refuses because of her love Mongryong.
Refusing the Governor's wishes is punishable by death.
As she is going through tremendous pain and agony, she remains steadfast of her love, Mongryong who is nowhere to be found.

Im Kwon Taek infuses the beautiful sounds of Pansori, one Korean singer (soriggun) and percussion (drum) instrumentalist (gosu).

One ways this film can be used in the classroom aside from reading the story of Chunhyang is learning Pansori and the process in state examination.

Information:
Chunhyang
Director: Im Kwon Taek
Actors: Lee Hyo-Jung, Cho Seung Woo, Kim Sung Nyu

lc