King and the Clown

South Korea's biggest box office hit of all time Lee Jun-ik's KING AND THE CLOWN bleeds vibrant color into this tragi-comedy loosely based on the diaries of a sixteenth-century king. The protective Jang-seng and the beautiful Gong-gil have been working together as minstrels for years. Their humorous act combines acrobatics and dramatic performance, with androgynous Gong-gil assuming the female roles. When they are forced to leave their small town to take on the big city, Seoul, they don't shy away from touchy subjects. While the jesters satirize King Yon-san's sexual escapades, the king's officials witness the taboo act. Jang-seng and Gong-gil are consequently sentenced to death, and reprieve will only be granted if they can make the king laugh. But the graces of this volatile king are more than they could have bargained for. Unspoken sexual tension is aplenty in this offbeat period piece, named the Korean “Brokeback Mountain.” The lead actors bring heartrending emotion to this touching tale set against a stunning Korean landscape. (In Korean with English subtitles) – E.J.B.