Chunhyang

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Chunhyang

R

Released Nov 7, 2000

2h 1m

Romance

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

74%

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1,000+ Ratings

In 13th-century Korea, Noble-born Mongryong (Cho Seung-woo) and commoner Chunhyang (Lee Hyojeong) fall in love when they first meet, but the difference in their social classes prevents them from pursuing a public relationship. They elope, but immediately after their nuptials, Mongryong is forced to follow his father to Seoul and finish school. When he returns, he discovers that Chunhyang has been sentenced to death by despotic ruler Gov. Byun Hakdo (Kim Sung-nyu), whom she refused to marry.

Critics Consensus

Chunhyang brings a classic love story to life with a period romance whose savory visuals are enhanced by a sincerity that transcends folktale formula.

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

A seductively watchable, mythically resonant experience.

Nov 30, 2001

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

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

Rated: 3/4

Nov 30, 2001

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Burl Burlingame

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Reminded of 'Ever After,' a film that took a standard western myth and updated it with wit, verve and relevance. This is in that league, and rather more elegant and adult.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 5, 2011

Full Review

Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

Part Disney, part Karl Marx, the movie might be characterized as a North Korean post-revolutionary blockbuster. And though the persecuted protagonist is hardly a shrinking violet but not quite a budding feminist, hey, we're talking centuries ago.

May 16, 2009

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 4/5

Aug 7, 2008

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Aditya G

A superb tale beautifully depicting the glory of chunhyang

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

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Audience Member

I HATED the singing narrative technique. It single-handedly ruined the movie for me. The problem for me is it's much too pervasive. The story itself is a little thin, but could have been a decent movie on its own.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I've long wanted to catch this, but feared it may be too arty and inaccessible. Finally I got down to it and I must say this adaptation of a famous Korean folklore is audience-friendly and narrated by songs set to the spellbinding songs and rhythms of the pansori (which may not be everyone's cup of tea). I'm gonna check out the story's setting in Namwon's Gwanghallu Pavilion foshizz!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

not my cup of tea story was interesting but the sing song narrative-lame

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

This bland story isn't helped by its grating soundtrack/narration.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

The visual style of film is overly indebted to Kurosawa, without his genius, and the love story itself is deeply old-fashioned, take it or leave it. But the framing device--the traditional musical storyteller, in a modern concert hall, spinning the tale start to finish-- is really clever and and adds many layers to the whole enterprise.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Im Kwon-taek

Director

Lee Hyojeong

Seong Chunhyang

Cho Seung-woo

Lee Mongryong

Lee Rogeon

Byeon Hakdo

Kim Sung-nyu

Wolmae

Kim Hak-young

Bangja

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Synopsis

In 13th-century Korea, Noble-born Mongryong (Cho Seung-woo) and commoner Chunhyang (Lee Hyojeong) fall in love when they first meet, but the difference in their social classes prevents them from pursuing a public relationship. They elope, but immediately after their nuptials, Mongryong is forced to follow his father to Seoul and finish school. When he returns, he discovers that Chunhyang has been sentenced to death by despotic ruler Gov. Byun Hakdo (Kim Sung-nyu), whom she refused to marry.

Director: Im Kwon-taek
Screenwriter: Kim Myung-kon
Distributor: Lot 47 Films
Production Co: Tae Heung Films Co., Ltd
Rating: R (Some Sensuality)
Genre: Romance, History, Drama
Original Language: Korean
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 2000, Original
Box Office (Gross USA): $802.9K
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)