Word: seung
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Chihwaseon is a sweeping historical epic that centers on the legendary nineteenth century Korean painter Jang Seung-up. Seung-up’s personal drama—his alcoholism, womanizing, and bitter struggle against the conservative academy that scorned his humble birth and unschooled talent—takes place in the milieu of the political and social upheaval resulting from and feeding into the Sino-Japanese...
...shik gives a brilliant and humane performance as the painter Seung-up. He generates sympathy and admiration for the struggling artist even as he unflinchingly portrays the villainous aspects of Seung-up’s personality. Min-shik’s Seung-up is sometimes a genius, often a lout, but always compelling. Min-shik’s ability to elicit pathos and laughter with the same gesture is nothing short of remarkable...
...seductive as Seung-up is, his abusive behavior towards the women in his life is unforgivable, and Kwon-taek’s film compounds these malefactions by relegating all of its female characters to the status of groupie or prostitute. By placing the maligned female voices in the film in the background, Kwon-taek falls into the same trap that has marred so many other artist biopics—recall Ed Harris’ Pollock...
...both epic and intimate in equal measure. By viewing it, I not only gained a working knowledge of the historical forces that gave rise to the modern, partitioned Korean state, but I also received tremendous insight into a uniquely creative and troubled mind. Kwon-taek’s Seung-up is not only a compelling figure unto himself, but a portal through which to see and understand modern Korean history...
...films, is related by a traditional pansori singer—and which with its sweeping sets and lavish costumes, recalls both the Korean theatrical and Hollywood musical traditions from which it draws. Chihwaseon, a portrait of Korea’s great artist and brush master Jang Seung-up, will be playing Saturday night at 7; Sopyonje, on Monday...