A Dirty Frozen Flower Carnival
Posted By: Jaccstev Filed In: 2008 films, Asian Drama, epic fantasy, holiday movies, Korean film, movie facts, Movie stills, synopsis Controversies are likely will up in the air with the releasing of Korean period epic romance “A Frozen Flower” or “Ssanghwajeom.” Based on a true story from Goryeo Dynasty Korea (918-1392), the film which directed by Yoo Ha (A Dirty Carnival, Spirit of Jeet Keun Do) has taken its title from a song of that era which described the sexual relationships between men and women.
But in a resemblance to Ang Lee’s acclaimed drama, “Brokeback Mountain,” it’s also a melodrama that following a secreted homosexual love, which take place between King of Goryeo and his bodyguard. As the director also has said that the film was "a love story between men". Yoo Ha who wanted to make a change from his previous works by doing a historical film with this fifth feature film of him, saying, "I always felt uncomfortable with the genre but I felt I should try to overcome those feelings.
It is also a new challenge for me to focus on a melodrama". Previously, director Yoo Ha has been widely acclaimed by moviegoers and critics alike for bringing out violence and collectivity from deep within the human soul, as well as for his provocative view on conventional ideas.
With this film, Yoo Ha also reunited with Korean actor Jo In-sung who both last worked together in 2006 "A Dirty Carnival”, which won Jo the lead male actor award at the 2006 Korea Film Awards.
Playing the king role is another popular actor in Korea, Joo Jin-mo(A Love, 200 Pounds Beauty) and as the female lead, a queen besieged by the Goryoe king and his men is starlet Song Ji-hyo.
Together they will romp in the dramatic sequences of this story that deal with love and betrayal which offer an insight to human nature. Last Korean period flick which also dealt with some sexual references was “Portrait of a Beauty,” are all of these had indicated that the Korean producers will continue to making a film with this theme?
Synopsis: In the end of Goryeo era politically manipulated by the Yuan Dynasty, the ambitious King of the Goryeo Dynasty organizes Kunryongwe. Hong Lim, the commander of Kunryongwe, captivates the King of Goryeo, and the Queen keeps her eyes on the relationship between Hong Lim and the King with a reluctant view. Meanwhile, the bilateral relation between Goryeo and the Yuan gets worse as Yuan demands to install the cousin of the King in the Crown Prince of Goryeo with ascribing it to no son the King has. The King refuses it resolutely, so the high-ranking officials of Goryeo, who are in submission to Yuan, are discontented with the king. One day, the King gives Hong Lim a covert yet unobjectionable order to sleep with the Queen instead of himself to protect the independence of Goryeo from the Yuan by making a son, the successor to Goryeo throne.
Some frozen facts of the flower:
# Jo In-sung was onboard from the beginning of the project, having turned down other acting roles to make “A Frozen Flower” his last work before enlisting for military service. He choose to appear in the film without knowing the exact details, having faith in the director following their earlier collaboration in 2005 on “A Dirty Carnival.”
# Jo In-Sung has been preparing for the role as a warrior for several months by taking up lessons for horseback riding, martial arts, and the geomungo.
# It was the first film to shoot at the newly built Jeonju Cinema Studio.
# Universal Pictures also has joint venture to produce this film.
# Bed scene between the two actors is making a headline, especially, due to the fact that the director Yoo has been known for racy sex scenes in his "Crazy Marriage."
# The studio also has marketed the film with releasing a teaser trailer which revealing a sexual scene between the bodyguard played by Jo In-sung and Song Ji-hyo as the queen.