Monday, July 03, 2006
The King and the Clown
The King and the Clown
This was one movie i could not believe myself enjoy watching. Yea, i totally agree with Karen then about it but until i saw it, i felt different. For it gave me a different and new perspective. Perhaps i did catch the gist of the movie here, apart from the homosexual parts.It was an amazing Korean 'Brokeback Mountain' movie. But actually it ain't much of similarity with the original Brokeback Mountain' movie. Personally i felt that it was a rather sad story, though some might not feel that way. I looked beyond the homosexual part and felt the movie. Basically the main plot is about how this two minstrels were able to satirise and make fun out of the KIng in their street performances which caught the King's attention. They were lucky enough to save their heads from execution for mocking the King. Back then during those times, the King was like the GOD, his words were so important that anyone who refuse to obey should die. Thus you can see how obedient and loyal the people are to the king. In this show, i came to a personal conclusion-that Korean Kings, tend to have a restricted childhood, with no liberty nor freedom, often have to listen to the court officials which made it seem like he's a controlled puppet. They are always stressed, often depressed as well. Well that's just my own perception, with reference of Da Chang Jin. lol.
What attracted me, as well as moved me was the strong relationship which i feel it's more of friendship and kinship between the main two characters Gong-Gil and Jang-Seng, though they are not blood-related. Jang's the macho-er guy, with fine leadership qualities of a witty man ;whilst Gong's the more effeminate boy due to his softer facial features, size and his quietness, like a girl's shyness and timidness . Nonetheless, both are best friends, family and co-workers to each other, growing up together since young such that anyone can tell that they are inseparable witty boys. Either worries for each other, and looks out for one another at all times. Of the both of them, Gong is always the helpless one in times of trouble, just like a ''damsel' or a helpless brother in distress, while Jang would be the one fighting, and protecting him. Gong, being the quieter and 'prettier' seems to have a tendency to attract perverts who would try force him to sell his delicate body. Like a protective brother, best friend Jae would often get mad when he is forced to sell his body to those perverts and thus plans to escape with Gong, for he could no longer bear to see his best friend undergo such torturous and traumatic sufferings. they escaped, along the way cheered each other up. But both are equally protective of each other, even if it means accidental killing someone to save each other, for they had only each other to rely on. Being actors in performing troupes, so called ministrels, they are the lowest caste in the social system then. Despite being poor, they had a priceless privilege---freedom and liberty, something which the King can never get. What did the King like in Gong-Gil and calls for him often at night? A controversial question? I thought perhaps he really got attracted by Gong-Gil's effeminity, a boy with such beautiful curves like that of a maiden's and soft sharp facial features. But When the King asked for him at night, all they did was for Gong-Gil to perform. He wisely entertained him with little dramas with dolls and wayangs without having to be taken advantaged of. From my point of view i felt that Gong-Gil, like Chang Jin (in Da Chang Jin), was the Kings' confidantes, where the Kings had troubled past with no one comfortable enough to share with. They act as the King's only comfort and confidante in expressing their true inner feelings that have been swept under the rug and surpressed due to the then conservative society.
The two best friends i believed got killed or commmitted suicide when the ministers and troops overthrew the tyran King. But it was a great movie, one that managed to touch me. And i have not regretted watching it ((:
Talk in my flooble chatterbox! ( if your can\'t tag on the screen!(: )
