Hong Seok-jung (홍석중)

Expensive drama stylish but miscast

2007/10/15 | Source | Permalink |

Appearing on-screen is a young woman with smoky eye make up, peach-toned blush and a lush purple dress.
To go with her black silk jacket finely embroidered with a golden flower print, she put on a black lace hat almost as big as an umbrella, with a piece of chiffon that drapes down to her shoulder.
It's hard to tell if this is the Hwang Ji Nyi we know ― a renowned 16th-century gisaeng and a poet who always appeared on screen with pale cheeks and red lipstick matching her dress, ridiculing aristocratic society with wit and scholarly insight.
Instead, what we have is an expensive period drama, which took four years in production and 7.1 billion won ($7.7 million) to complete.
Visually, however, the money pays off in the film adaptation of Jang Yoon-Hyeon's "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007".
Whether in designer-made costumes or the period settings, the film glows with style, providing a poisonous glimpse of the self-deprecating heroine who led herself to tragic isolation through ...| More

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i wish the movie would be seen here in the Philippines... sweety08gurl 2007-10-21 08:20:21

"Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007" to Grace Japanese Sreens

2007/07/02 | Source | Permalink |

Biographical film "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007"'s Japanese distribution rights were bought by Pony Canyon. CJ Entertainment's lavish period costume drama starring SONG Hye-kyo in the titular role was previously attained by Festive for release in Singapore and Malaysia.

JANG Yoon-hyeon directed the love story between the Gisaeng (equivalent of the Japanese geisha) HWANG Jin Yi and the lowly servant Nom-yi (played by YOO Ji-tae). The film is based on a novel of the North Korean writer HONG Seok-jung and the film also contains scenes shot in North Korea.

The co-producers Cine2000 and Siz Entertainment invested US$ 7.2 million in the project, and international sales are handled by CJ Entertainment.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...| More

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A young actress becomes a mature gisaeng

2007/06/16 | Source | Permalink |

Hwang Jin-i, a woman of erotic style and flamboyant intelligence, was excellent at writing poems and drawing and she ridiculed the patriarchal society in which she lived.
Any actress would want to play Hwang Jin-I -- the famous gisaeng is one of the most colorful characters in Korean history, along with Chang Hee-bin and Seong Chun-hyang.
Many movies, dramas and novels have dealt with the life of Hwang Jin-i. Directors have sought out only the most beautiful actresses to play the role.
Do Geum-bong, an actress famed for her sensual body, was the first to play the gisaeng in modern film, starring in "Hwang Jin-i - Movie - 1957" in 1957.
After that, Kang Sook-hee starred in "The Life of Hwang Jin-i (1961)", and Kim Ji-mi followed her in "Hwang Jin-i's First Love (1969)". Kim Ji-mi had a Westernized rather than a traditional Korean appearance.
Chang Mi-hee in "Hwang Jin-i (1986)", directed by Bae Chang-ho, was the most outstanding Hwang Jin-i character, since she was not portraye...| More

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Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007 screens in North Korea

2007/06/01 | Source | Permalink |

The big-budget period drama "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007" has received a special screening in North Korea ahead of its local release.

The film, which is based on the life of Korea's most famous gisaeng (the Korean equivalent to the Japanese "geisha"), is adapted from a famous novel by North Korean author Hong Seok-jung.

As the novel references several famous sites in what is now North Korea, the filmmakers made a special effort to shoot the film's final segment at the Geumgang ("Diamond") Mountain resort area in the North. The Geumgang complex is the one part of North Korea that is freely open to tourists from the South, following its development as a tourist complex in 2000. "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007" is the second Korean film to shoot in the complex, following comedy "A Bold Family" ("Super Family") in 2005.

The screening was held in the Geumgang complex for South Korean tourists and employees of the Hyundai Asan company that operates the tours. A total of 6000 people ...| More

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wo0oo..c0ngrats SHK!:) mharacute 2007-06-05 18:06:52

'Hwang' Is Lovely But Lackluster

2007/05/24 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

"Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007" delivers a novel interpretation of one of the most celebrated women in the Joseon Kingdom era (1392-1910), but shines just dimly on the silver screen. The shortcomings of the highly anticipated film regrettably eclipse its unique plot, all-star cast and crew, and grand-scale production.

The film traces the life of Hwang Jin Yi, a 16th century gisaeng - a female entertainer-artist similar to the Japanese geisha - remembered as both a distinguished poet and alluring femme fatale.

Born into a respected noble family, the charming Hwang leads a peaceful life in the city of Songdo. But when her scandalous birth secrets are revealed, she voluntarily chooses the lowly life of a gisaeng.

Hwang, brought to life by Song Hye-kyo, evolves from an innocent damsel to smoldering temptress. Song gives an impressive performance of her character's winding emotional journey, and breaks away from her image as a sweet-faced starlet.

"...| More

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