A Frozen Flower: Movie recap and review
by Sevenses
Just a word of warning – the movie does deal with adult content, so I would like to respectfully ask people to stay away if they cannot be mature about the discussion. Thank you!
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Frozen Flower, a Review
In which Joo Jin-mo plays the king, Jo In-sung plays his loyal guard Hong Lim, and Song Ji-hyo plays the queen.
In short, the story takes place during the Goryeo dynasty, and the king portrayed in the movie formed his own group of elite bodyguards called the Kunryongwe. Hong Lim is the captain of these guards. The queen is a princess of Mongolian Yuan, and the movie revolves around the love triangle that forms around the three of them.
From the time of his introduction as a little boy in training to become one of the Kunryongwe, Hong Lim is shown as loyal and dedicated to a fault. He may not be the best swordsman, but he would always be the one to practice the longest. His devotion soon caught the notice of the king, who cherished him as a close companion.
Of course, this companionship comes with a price, and the first foreshadowing hints of trouble to come when the princess of Yuan arrives and is summarily ignored by the king. Hong Lim seems vaguely disturbed at this, but his king doesn’t care at all.
Fast-forward 10 years, to the present, when a group of the Kunryongwe is in hot pursuit of a runaway member. Han-baek, a junior guard, has decided to elope with a palace maid, which is obviously against the rules.
This carries a death sentence for both the maid and the guard, but Hong Lim is close enough to the king to be able to persuade him otherwise. The king treats Hong Lim with an abundance of affection and allows him the sort of freedom rarely given to even the queen.
Of course this incites jealousy from multiple quarters, one of them being that of the vice-captain. He taunts Hong Lim with using pillow-talk to distract the king from vital affairs, though Hong Lim’s skill with a sword usually puts an end to all the idle talk. He certainly isn’t ostracized and even seems beloved and well-respected by the other guards.
Anyway, the king and the captain of his guard are close. I think we get that by now, but just in case anyone has lingering doubts, there you go.
The queen comes to visit the king occasionally, but he just doesn’t give her the same kind of attention he does for Hong Lim, and everyone knows this as sort of an open secret in the palace. Unfortunately, her relatives are also coming to visit, and the continual lack of a royal heir is bound to come up as an issue. The problem isn’t the queen – the king has an abundance of concubines – it’s just that he’s gay.
However, the lack of an heir leaves the king open to deposition from the Yuan dynasty and treachery from his own nobles. The queen understands this, and in a secluded corner of the royal gardens, frigidly thanks Hong Lim for ‘taking care of something I should have done’. It’s a double-edged dagger kind of remark, because she’s referring to both his rescue of the palace maiden and (presumably) his place in the king’s bed every night. However, the queen reminds Hong Lim that in light of the royal heir problem, his devotion to the king may not be tolerated for much longer. Oh, the resentment, you can cut cubes of it and make stew.
On a rare outing from the palace, the king and queen relax and do their version of ‘kicking back’, but then assassins attack.
The Kunryongwe have been well-trained, and fight back relatively well. It’s just that the king, in defiance of all common-sense and self-preservation, refuses to leave with the queen. He wants to stay and make sure Hong Lim is alright. (Geez.)
Surprisingly, the king is much better at swordsmanship than any of his guards, which means he ends up rescuing Hong Lim a couple of times. As the fighting goes on, though, the two are outnumbered in the pavilion. Of course, narrative demands that the king gets hurt in trying to save Hong Lim. (Seriously, in this aspect he’s really the worst kind of ruler possible – doesn’t do anything to further the line and breaks all the rules for one person.)
The king survives being stabbed in the chest, and the first thing he does after waking up is to ask for Hong Lim and see if he‘s okay. If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my corner, facepalming.
The investigation into the assassination points the finger at Lord Cho, who’s influential enough that even the Kunryongwe don’t dare to accuse without more proof. So for the moment the bodyguard are going with the ‘random Japanese pirates’ story, though Hong Lim commands further undercover investigating.
Meanwhile, back at court the Yuan ambassador is welcomed with open arms if not exactly smiles. In the absence of a royal heir, the Yuan emperor has decided to enthrone a distant cousin, the lord Kyungwon, as crown prince, thereby robbing the king of autonomy in his own country. (It’s all a little too ‘big brother is watching you’ for me.)
In addition, the Yuan dynasty also demands that Goryeo send soldiers and maidens to help in the fight against insurgents ‘enemies of the empire’. (If it’s fighting, what the hell do they need maidens for?) The attitude of the emissary, while not calculated to be humiliating, views the king as just another pawn of the Yuan empire. And to add injury to insult Lord Cho and presumably the new heir is fully prepared to agree with all the demands.
The queen is really angry at this, however, and rather unrealistically lashes out at the assembled lords for their lack of loyalty towards the rightful king. It’s nice that she’s willing to take the blame for not having an heir, and even defending the man who pretty much treats her as just another part of his kingship.
Later at night, the king urges her to go home before he becomes only a puppet king controlled by the Yuan. However, the queen has firmly settled her loyalty on her husband, and refuses to go. (Either she has feelings for him at this point, or I’m blind.)
Then the king mentions ‘another option’.
Fertility rituals and preparations begin, as the king and queen formally set aside a night to try for the heir. Hong Lim is somewhat dismayed at the king’s request while the queen is just plain unhappy at literally being used as a brood mare.
The first attempt between Hong Lim and the queen don’t, ah, yield fruit, but that just means he has to try again. Hong Lim somewhat confusedly asks the king why he even considers doing something like this, and the king only answers that his heir must be a fair child, like Hong Lim.
The second and third nights are more successful, but all parties involved experience mixed feelings about the event. Hong Lim enjoys himself, the queen slightly less so, and the king is jealous of his lover and his wife spending nights together. The fractures in each relationship begin to show and Hong Lim gets totally confused about his attachment to the king. He uses the ongoing investigation as an excuse and runs away.
The king rushes out of the palace in plainclothes to greet Hong Lim’s return, but the latter had just returned from visiting the queen. (That’s terminally silly, but then I don’t write scripts and cautious people make bad stories.)
Meeting the king and being reminded of how loved he is brings out all the guilt again, because why miss a chance to angst?
Hong Lim continually oversteps his bounds by paying too much attention to the queen. By now they are both fatally attracted to each other and have trouble staying away for long periods of time. Hong Lim’s frequent absences and wandering mind irritate the king, who suspects the truth but is willing to believe in Hong Lim’s (weak) denials.
The Kunryongwe uncover that a merchant named Ma Young-il was recently killed after smuggling lots of Japanese weaponry. Being able to trace him back to Cho provides the king with proof to pursue and execute those who are disloyal. One of the co-conspirators include the queen’s older brother, the visiting emissary from Yuan. His special status means that he doesn’t get killed at the same time the treasonous nobles – but he can’t escape death.
Hong Lim is ordered to kill him, but a subordinate later reveals to the king that he was let go for the sake of the queen. (He’s still dead by someone else’s hand, though, as the head in the box attests.)
Things go rapidly downhill from there, as the queen attempts suicide after hearing the news. The king loses faith in Hong Lim while the latter is full of self-doubt at his own betrayal. He does promise the king that he was acting out of mistaken lust. (Yeah, you wish.)
They all try to return to life as it was, but it only makes things worse. The shape of the inevitable is obvious, and the tension is only waiting for the next disaster to break.
The king decides to send Hong Lim away to the border to clear his mind. However, the queen sends for Hong Lim, with the news that she is pregnant. They meet in their usual place, the library, and are caught in the act by the king and a retinue of servants and guards.
Incensed, the king orders that Hong Lim be castrated and imprisons him. He manages an escape, with the help of his friends remaining in the guard. The five of them seek refuge at an old temple.
However, the king has a bargaining chip in the queen, who is now alone to protect both herself and her child.
Naturally, when Hong Lim realizes this, he abandons his friends to ride off to the queen’s rescue. Halfway, he realizes the futility of actually going against the king. Unfortunately for Hong Lim’s former subordinates, when he returns, the king has already caught up with them. They are brutally tortured for news of Hong Lim’s whereabouts.
I think we all agree that the king has stepped off the deep end by now, and kudos to Joo Jin-mo for doing such a good job. He’s so desperate to have Hong Lim back that he won’t hesitate to commit more atrocities.
Defeated and alone, Hong Lim returns to the capital in time to see the heads of four men staked on the wall – he recognizes them, and also the pendant of the queen hanging from the fifth head.
Now solely aiming for revenge, Hong Lim disguises himself as a returning soldier and enters the palace during the celebratory feast. The king leaves while the celebration is still going on, and we find out two things: the queen (as expected) is still alive, and Hong Lim still retains his title as captain.
The king has killed everyone involved in the adultery case, with the exception of the vice captain. Now he tells everyone in the guard of what has happened, as a safeguard for his own life and the future of the Kunryongwe guards.
While the discussion is going on, Hong Lim has entered the king’s chambers and forced a fight. He intends to kill the king, though the latter is mostly yielding to him. The prolonged fight destroys most of the king’s furniture and suite. When Hong Lim cuts through a treasured painting of the two of them hunting, the duel becomes serious.
Multitudes of guards arrive, but are kept back by both the king’s command and the vice captain’s restraining hand.
As always, the king is the better swordsman, and when Hong Lim asks for death, the king stabs him through the shoulder, pinning him to a pillar. The king asks if Hong Lim had ever loved him, and he denies it. Then he walks forward, impaling himself further and stabbing the king in the stomach.
The king dies pretty quickly, but Hong Lim’s shoulder wound isn’t immediately fatal, so it’s up to Seung-ki, the vice captain, to kill him as an assassin. (It’s almost a matter of personal revenge, as Seung-ki seems to have been in love with the king this whole time.) The queen finally pushes her way past the guards in time to see Hong Lim in his death throes on the floor.
He hears her voice, and with the (er, hopefully) last effort of a dying man, lifts himself up so that he dies looking at the body of the king.
The bustle of dealing with the bodies fades into a flashback from happier times, when the two had just met:
Hong Lim: Wow! Everything looks really great from up here.
King: My home is right there.
Hong Lim: It’s beautiful. I’d love to live there.
King: Then how about spending our entire lives there?
Hong Lim: Yes, of course!
And the movie ends on the dream sequence of the two of them hunting in the Northern Plains, exactly as the destroyed painting depicted.
End movie.
Commentary/Rambling:
– Okay, first of all, I have to say, outstanding job on the scenery and choreography. Gorgeous doesn’t begin to cover it. I also really like the music used here – it doesn’t drown out the story, and the music follows the movie, not the other way around.
– Joo Jin-mo did a great job portraying all the turmoil and angst inherent in a role like his. His character felt so real, in fact, that I was totally on his side during the entire movie – even when he went crazy and killed so many people. I had expected it of Joo Jin-mo, as he’s a charismatic veteran actor with lots of films under his belt, but I had also hoped Jo In-sung would move past just being a pretty face. Oh well, he has plenty of time to develop when he comes back from military service. As for Song Ji-hyo, her performance here is a step up from what she did in Goong – understated, but she gets the message across. In terms of chemistry, however, it’s all on Joo Jin-mo.
– The actor for young Hong Lim deserves a special mention, I think, not just for his creditable performance here but in other dramas as well. For his age, Yeo Jin-goo shows pretty good depth and manages to retain the childlike vitality that underscores Hong Lim’s earlier relationship with the king.
– The costumes are a little too gaudy, but then historical movies always contain an element for dress-up. What I really didn’t like was the fact that the movie felt bloated with prettiness. More editing and tightening would have prevented fatigue during the second half – flashy is nice, but not at the expense of the plot. At the end, I just wanted all of them to die.
– Despite the presence of the queen and all the declarations of love running around, this movie is still very much about Hong Lim and his king. Their tragedy lies in the fact that they both feel too much (as opposed to feeling too little). Their emotions run to extremes all the time: they love too hard, they hate too hard, and they tied themselves together far too tightly for the break up to end well.
– There’s a tired joke I always trot out with friends unfamiliar with epic wuxia movies – namely, that the couple trying to find love against all odds will die (well, everyone dies, but their deaths have that special 30 minute prismacolour surround-sound touch). And while Frozen Flower doesn’t have much in common with the average wuxia movie (except teh sageuk pretteh, I suppose), I think it’s significant that the king and Hong Lim are the ones to die together.
– What’s your take?
Tags: Jo In-sung, Joo Jin-mo, Song Ji-hyo
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101 natasjja
August 19, 2013 at 8:39 PM
Ok let me write my perception of this movie. I watched it twice n the second time around do I really understand the movie.
First of all I think all 3 of them did really well. Even some of you criticised the expressions of Jo In Sung as Hong Lim and Song Ji Hyo as the queen but I think they did show what supposed to be showed. I think the director wants us to think n rather than gives direct answer.
Secondly I think the title and the main
Protagonists characters r metaphoric. The frozen flower is the queen. And the conflict occur when the flower is 'unfrozen'.
Having being personally selected and offered to live in the palace since a young age what more can we expect Hong Lim to be other than grateful and devoted to the king. These is what the king used to manipulate him and makes him his lover. The confused kid that grew up in an all boys environment and serving the king devotedly thinks that he is gay. That is the only sexual orientation that he was introduced by the king as the Konryungmwe was not allowed to date with women. To Hong Lim his world is the king that he need to serve even if it means to the bed. Because he is so grateful of all the opportunity, attention and privileged he received. He never really know loving other person other than the king.
And I beg to differ who thinks the queen is ambitious to have an heir. She has been covering up the king fr Yuan dynasty and went thru all the humiliation. She even took the blame that she is the one that cannot give an heir. And when the king ask her to go back to Yuan as he knew that for him to get an heir is hopeless the queen refuse as she still wants to protect her king and her people. That's selfless for me. This is when the king had the idea of using Ho Lim to impregnated the queen. That night the king even abandoned her and had sex with Hong Lim before persuading Hong Lim with the crazy idea. Can you imagine how is the queen feeling. So don't blame her for being icy cold. She was abandoned for long time and never felt love by the husband. She spent her married years end up being unwanted and lonely. And I think for her even when Hong Lim did show some affection to her she was confused and do not know either to be happy or grateful.
The sex scenes or I think the director might want it to be call the making love scenes. Though it seems too many and some act might be unnecessary. But actually I do realized each sex events has its own meaning. You need to understand the characters thought to enable to know their emotions. And besides that is how the queen and Hong Lim find out their tru feelings and need for each other. They cannot date freely like other ppl to show their relationship. They can only meet secretly so can't blame that they only loving by making love.
The first night when the king exchange his place with Hong Lim we can see the queen was so nervous. Its her first time n she need to do it with her husband lover. That is why she was lying like a log. She was holding her hand tightly and shaky. When Hong Lim start to kiss her she cried I think because she was touched because that is the first time she was kissed by a man. You can see from her expression that she was longing for the kiss. But when Hong Lim saw her cry he thinks that he already did something that the queen didn't please that's y he stopped. He do respect the queen.
On the second night (the first successful event) you can see how Hong Lim and the queen trying hard to be comfortable with each other. This time the queen already aware that she will loose her virginity to Hong Lim. So she just lay down looks lifeless n let Hong Lim to do the job as it her first time n she was being forced of coz she do not know how to interact as the man is not her husband. And Hong Lim seems wants everything to ends fast as it looks like obligation to him as the king is sitting next door. You can see both parties r being forced n they don't even look at each other during intercourse. To me the queen looked like being raped at her first night.
The next morning you can see Hong Lim was in deep thinking on the horse. I think maybe he was thinking he was forcing the queen and by right he needs to treat the queen gently.You can see his slow approach on the third night (where both of them started to make love naturally). Hong Lim approached the queen gently and start to kiss her more passionate. You can see him looking at the queen's eyes before kissing her lips. The gentleness that makes the queen feel special n being treat like a real woman. That is why she raised Hong Lim faced and start to kiss him too. N she start to respond well n things just flow naturally.
The king starts to hear that their affectionation sounds different than before that what makes him so curious to have a look. And to his surprised the two really doing it well. He might not think that it will go that far. That is went the jealousy start to strike.
The next day Hong Lim asked to be away for few days. The king seems reluctant to let him. I think by this time he already feels that the thing that happened between him n the queen means special n he wants to be distanced from both the king n queen to think. Especially to be away from the king.
Hong Lim seems to be fallen in love with the queen right away. He keeps thinking of the nights with the queen. He thinks of the queen right away after seeing the perfume necklace an he even go n see the queen first after return! And he went straight to his room without any plans meeting the king. He realized by then that he might had changed heart. The king is the one missing him n waiting for him un front of his room quarters. That is why Hong Lim was shocked.The scene where he hug the sleeping king while crying, I think Hong Lim feel guilty that he start to fall for the queen that is why he wants to throw away the gift but just couldn't do it. When he heard that the queen was sick he was worried so much n even sent the honeysuckle tea for the queen before the king does. From there also I think Hong Lim start to realised he is straight as he keeps making excuses not to be in bed with the King.
The scene where the king met both Hong Lim and the queen and saying that they migjt be another round of ritual since the queen did not conceived you can see from both the queen and Hong Lim eyes that they wish it to happen but when the king said its going to be postponed u can see their regretful emotions a bit but they covered up by saying its ok. Hong Lim can't get his eyes off the queen n visit the queen without prior notice. He used the queen's health as the reason for his visit. But hus genuine reason is to give tbe the perfume sachet for the queen. That's enough to tell that he already fallen in love with the queen. The gift is the symbol of his love apart of the honeysuckle tea. In other hand the queen was touched as Hong Lim really noticed the little details (like how much she is sad her perfume sachet she treasured was lost during the attack). As u know women really particular of this little details. Furthermore she gets the meaning of Hong Lim gift.
During the banquet Hong Lim starts to pay attention to the queen. What surprised him more is the queen wore his gift. Its like publicly accepting Hong Lim's love. And ever since his eyes were stucked to the woman he has fallen for. When the queen was out of his sight Hong Lim starts to feel restless.
For me the reason the queen asked Hong Lim to meet her at the library during the banquet night is actually to know Hong Lim true feeling. Does he really fell for her, besides she also has been missing Hong Lim for sometime. So does Hong Lim. Ok, the library sex scene might be a bit unnecessary but I think the director wants to show us how those two souls declaring their love for the first time. What else can we expect they do to declare their love? Reading in library? Hahahaha. That is why the queen gave the handkerchief after they made love as at that point she is certain of their feelings to each other. She wants Hong Lim always keep the handkerchief as she woven it herself. When the queen tells him to meet again during midnight the next day for the secret rendezvous he never rejects. I think he starting to love the mutual feeling with each other.
When he return back to the party you can see he start looking at the king no other than a bodyguard looking at a king. His gaze now more towards the queen. By this time he already firm that he is indeed straight n love a woman. When he was stucked doing the spying job the night after. He can't focus when midnight came. I think he was worried that the queen might wait for him all night that is why he rushed to the library to check on the queen. On the other hand we can see how the queen anxiously wait for Hong Lim. That time she must be thinking that Hong Lim didn't turn up because he spent the night with the king.
Hong Lim start to doing mistakes in front of the king. He missed to report to the king of his spying job right away. His giving a lame excuse of not disturbing the king. Its kinda obvious Hong Lim was avoiding to enter the kings chamber. when he chose the queen's handkerchief over the king's gift horse its already told us clearly I Hong Lim chose the queen rather than his lover for more than 10 years. Hong Lim indeed found his first true love. He proved it by taking xtra measures and suicidal mission chasing after the queen to her hometown palace. It's true that the making up scene a lil too long. The last 2 positions is unnecessary. But what's important is the scene before n after. We can see Hong Lim was teary when he first enter the queen's chamber. Its because he feels sorry for not turning up at the library and he was missing the queen so much. You cam tell right away when he explains himself by kissing the queen and end up making love. There is one important expression that u cannot miss from both Hong Lim and the queen. In the middle ifvtheir act you can see the sadness from their eyes. It tells you that they have fallen for each other but its just impossible fir their relationship to happen. All they can do is meet up secretly behind the king's back n must be cautious not to get caught. They are trap of being the acquaintances of the king. The king just wont let them go easily if he found out. And the way the queen hugging and kissing Hong Lim tells us that she realized she has fallen in love the husband bodyguard who she hated before.
And the highlight of this this is the part where the queen make tea and flower rice cake for Hong Lim. This part is emotional I think. She confessed to Hong Lim why she resented Hong Lim before and how she feels. And when she said she always dream of making flower rice cake to give to her person she love just like other married woman her eyes hot teary. And Hong Lim understand what she went through paetly its because of him. And when Hong Lim taste the rice cake I think he never taste something that us made out of sincerity that is why he was extremely touched by it. Both of them has went through a lor because of the king. Loving sincerely is new to them.
But what Hong Lim miscalculated is the king's jealousy. He kinda shovked and shaky when the king keep asking him what he did and where he was. The naive and loyal Hong Lim just bad at lie and this what makes the king noticed something fishy is happening behind his back. That is why he keep testing Hong Lim's loyalty. The ultimate is when he request to kill Tae Han, the queen's brother. As Hong Lim had disobeyed the king's crucial order. When the king said "there is no man he can trust" the king was deeply looking at Hong Lim. Hong Lim knew right away whoever betrayed the king will be dead. That is why he avoided the queen for sometime.
The jealous and selfish king once again comes up what with crazy idea. Asking the queen to have sex with another bodyguard to bear an heir. This is the time when I lost pity for him. How can he turn his queen like a whore. He was treating her lower than royal concubine. Is it not enough she has make her suffered all these years and facing humility. Now he wants to add another humility for her queen. I love the fact that Hong Lim protects the queen's honor. His teary eyes tells us how much she love her and he was against the crazy king's idea. He proves it once more when he cried in his room thinking of what the king's said. The king's stare at him when he said that Hong Lim should know why he doesn't want Hong Lim to do it is full of scary jealousy. This is when Hong Lim knew the king's madness and obsessiveness.
When the queen enters his room and asked to leave the palace he knows that if they ran away they will be chased. There's nowhere to hide and they will come to dead end as the king has the best bodyguards working for him. That is why he sacrificed and wants to go back to the king. When he said he is afraid he doesn't refer to himself. He is afraid of the queen's safety more than him. But the queen misinterpreted the information and try commit suicide. Not long after Hong Lim pleaded the king to take away his life. Once again the king feel cheated and betrayed as both of the queen n Hong Lim are showing the same suicidal act in objection to his idea. But he still have the faith that Hong Lim will be back to his side. That's why he wants to clarify with Hong Lim that between Hong Lim and the queen it was just lust. When Hong Lim said yes he forgave him and asked Hong Lim to stay at his room. As you can see Hong Lim wasn't happy to serve the king. Not like before. He force himself to smile. He acts nothing more like the king's companion to fulfill the king's desire of loving him. Even when the king's promising him great things, his eyes were blank and he can't feel attached to the king anymore. That's the reason when the king wants him to be sent to the border he wants to be deploy as soon as possible. I think its hard enough for him to stay in the palace but couldn't be with the woman that he loves. Couldn't be the man he is and Furthermore need to serve the king as a lover. The best choice is to be away from the palace.
We can see how hard Hong Lim try in avoiding the queen. But he was startled when he found out the queen is pregnant with his child. He does actually owe an explanation to the queen before heading off for duty. When he saw the queen wrist he can't help from being sorry because he has abandoned her. The queen has been contemplating to tell Hong Lim about the baby as he is departing soon. But she wad afraid that turns will be worst if the king knew about the pregnancy as it's for sure was conceived behind the king's back.
But Hong Lim assured that the king will accept the baby as an heir as that was the king's original plan. The sad and scaref queen just couldn't let Hong Lim go and crying for him(don't blame her. She's pregnant so it was a bit hormonal). N I don't think the queen is a bitch that initiate their Love scene. It takes two to tango if Hong lim doesn't kiss her back things wont happened. I think they misses each other so much. Its too much burden for them to handle. It's like goodbye sex for them and it is the climax that needed in this drama. If the king just caught them talking he won't be that crazily mad. I guess the library sex scene is needed for the conflict climax. This c is where you know the exact feeling for each character. I love the fact b that Hong Lim and the queen ate taking blames and trying to save each other. That what makes the king extremely hurt. But its Hong Lim confession of love for the queen that initiate The madness of the king. You b can see how hurtful, angry, betrayed and sad he was. And Hong Lim do not hesitate and tell him straight to his face. That's y without thinking he ordered for Hong Lim to be castrated hoping that he will beg for forgiveness., but Hong Lim rather die than going back to the king. That's what makes him more mad until he couldn't control. How can he think Hong Lim love the queen only for sex. Couldn't he sees that is true love.
What I hate is how come the king can face Hong Lim and ask him still to get back to him like old times when he already humiliate him to the roots. Did he think he can exchanged a country to the thing that he has cut off. No man with the right mind will accept. Its pretty obvious that Hong Lim only cares fir the queen. He just want to save the queen despite his inability. That's true love. The thing that he experienced before with the king is more like a loyal servant serving his master.
The revengeful Hong Lim already has no regrets when he came to kill the king. All the person close to him was dead. He believed that the woman he love and his child are dead too. Love the anger in his eyes when he told the king that its too late for him turning back. He was cut down go the roots to have any regrets. And the way he told off the king that he never love him also is very memorable and strong. He wants to die in revenge for killing the person he love. That what make the king shocked and startled that led to his death.
The last glimpse of him towards the king with teary eye is he couldn't belueve the king test him to that extend just because of jealousy. How come a person who claims to love him do that.
All in all I love this movie.
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102 Lindy
September 18, 2013 at 2:40 PM
I love this movie, have watched it 3 times, and am glad that people still have such insightful thoughts even 5 years after release.
I think the title of the movie, A Frozen Flower, represents the situation the members of the lovers' triangle find themselves. All are trapped, unhappy, and unable to live an authentic life. They are frozen. I find them each enormously sympathetic as people and the final outcome is a tragic result of this entrapment.
The king is gay, has never been able to "penetrate" a woman, but because he is a king with absolute authority over his people he can solve the problem by creating what is essentially a harem of strapping, handsome young guardsmen. Even though he loves and sleeps only with Hong Lim, it's pretty clear that anyone of these men will perform the same service for him should he require it. I call it a harem because he maintains order by forbidding them any meaningful contact at all with the opposite sex. They instead fill their days with such manly pursuits as hunting, fighting, martial arts, frolicking naked with each other in streams etc.
But the order has started to break down. One young guardsman and a young maid fall in love and take the great risk of running away to be together. Their youthful passion for each other is so strong that they would rather flee than continue to live apart. Not even the almost certain possibility that they will be caught and hauled back to face a horrible death is enough to dissuade them. This situation foreshadows the passionate love Hong Lim and the queen will feel for each other soon with the same disregard for danger and the even more dire consequences if discovered.
I know the Yuan overlords seem heavy in their insistence that there be an acceptable heir to the throne immediately. But Goryeo is their client state after all; it has been 10 years and the king has been unable to fulfill the number one duty of kingship. He hasn't provided a secure succession to the throne into the next generation and the Yuan are quite right to be worried. The court and the higher ups might be perfectly aware that the king is only sexually attracted to men but the ordinary citizens of Goryeo probably do not. All they know is their king has not produced a prince and, if something happens to him, it will be bad for the country. There will be opposing claimants and perhaps civil war with the resulting out-and-out annexation by the Yuan etc. It's a very destabilizing situation because, as Seung-gi, says the king is the land and an infertile king means an "infertile" land.
The queen has come to a foreign land as a very young woman (in her mid-teens at the oldest); she's alone and dependent on a husband who ignores her sexually. She does her duty as a princess of Yuan, adapts to the new customs, becomes a citizen of Goryeo and grows to love her new home. The king and queen seem to have a good relationship and even to like each other. He treats her with respect, honours her as his queen in public and is honest with her regarding his inability to consummate their marriage.
The queen, in turn, completely assumes the blame for their lack of children and protects his secret. Publicly it's her lack of virtue and her inability to conceive that's at fault. When she privately chides him for not making enough effort in the getting of an heir, his response is that perhaps he should take another concubine. He already has 3, equally untouched, and it's a public humiliation for her. The king takes another concubine because the queen can't produce a child.
It's a tragedy that the king is unable to be a "real" husband to his queen because, if he had been, they would have had the possibility of a successful marriage together with the satisfactions of children and a shared throne. They are both fundamentally good people, capable of love and respect for each other and for their country. He might have taken a concubine or two over the years but I'm sure, as a creature of her time and her place in society, she would have expected this. I think she would have even accepted Hong Lim's position in the king's life if he had been able to give her what she really wants. Certainly there has been more than one king, regardless of country of origin, who has had close male companions. She wants to be a woman as well as a queen, she wants not only heirs for the country but to become a mother with children to love and guide and nurture.
The king's decision to have Hong Lim act as his surrogate in consummating his marriage and impregnating his queen adds both tinder and flame to an already explosive situation what with threats of annexation from the Yuan and plots against his throne by his own court advisors. At first I was puzzled about their relationship. Was Hong Lim in love with the king? Was he in fact bisexual? I don't think this is the case. Hong Lim is really frozen in his role as the king's lover. He doesn't know what he is.
The king is absolutely in love with and faithful to Hong Lim despite living in a virtual candy store of nubile young men devoted in their service to their king. He lavishes attention, expensive gifts, his time and his exclusive attention to a man I think he knows in his heart doesn't love him in the same way. What the king does out of love, Hong Lim does out of his sense of duty and loyalty to his king. The king is pathetically trying to buy what should be given freely - Hong Lim"s love.
There is a wonderful non-verbal moment in the bedroom scene between the king and Hong Lim which is a real testament to the acting skills of both Jo In Sung and Joo Jin Mo. In the heat of the moment, the king pulls away and stares deeply into the eyes of his lover, a quizzical look on his face. It's as if he is silently asking Hong Lim, "Do you love me? Is this as real for you as it is for me?" Hong Lim looks confused and momentarily panicked. It's as if he replies, "What? Am I doing this wrong? What do you want from me?"
As long as the situation stays the same, the king never has to confront the reality that what he sees as love, Hong Lim sees as his duty. When he peeks in on the queen and Hong Lim during their third night together, he has to acknowledge this fact directly. They are responding to each other as a man and a woman together instead of as the king's puppets put together for one purpose only. The king from that moment becomes the spurned lover who can no longer buy but only coerce affection from Hong Lim. But he's a spurned lover with absolute power of life and death over his subjects and everyone suffers because of it.
Do Hong Lim and the queen love each other? I believe they do, completely and selflessly. The king throws them together in what he sees as a practical solution to his problem. If he can't get an heir himself, he will get the heir from his lover which I think he sees as just as good. The child will be his child as well as Hong Lim's and his queen's because Hong Lim is his surrogate. The relationship between Hong Lim and the queen is speeded and forced like a hot house flower and they become unfrozen, so to speak. I think the scene where they spend the night in her brother's house is just perfect. They are both aware that this might be the only night they have together as a man and a woman and they are going to explore everything as a man and a woman. Every action is intensified and heightened because this might be it for them. Also this is probably the night they conceive their child together.
This is a wonderful film which explores the tragedy that can happen when people can't live their lives as they are instead of what society demands they be. The king especially is a really tragic figure. He has absolute power, he can arrange his world exactly to his liking but he can't control the human heart.
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103 Heather Hoskin
February 1, 2014 at 2:51 AM
Have just watched the movie. Loved it. But it went for too long and I missed the ending.
Am so glad to read review and find out what happened in the end.
Loved the reviews and had a good laugh.
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104 Meg
April 14, 2014 at 1:28 PM
I started to watch this movie by chance since I like Korean historical movies, and it sounded interesting for the story description.
Only I had to stop pretty fast, since my little sister was watching it over my back. ^^;
(There's no warning on the on-line sites descriptions, and in wiki as well, ups.)
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105 Jill
July 1, 2014 at 6:58 PM
This was nothing but porn. I disliked it. I threw it in the trash when I was done with it, and had to turn my head and lower the volume for every sex scene.
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106 tanboonkeat99
July 9, 2014 at 8:03 AM
did jo in sung f*** song ji hyo real or not real
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107 Tasha
October 7, 2014 at 1:32 AM
Good recap.
Homosexuality, debauchery, lust are known to have existed in the courts and blackberries hit it on the nail abt watching this w view that this is a saguek. HL realisation that the King is merciless when it comes to protecting his own pushed HL to seek revenge. I think there was genuine love between the King and HL. Does lust begets love?..im not sure of this, but if you desire and see someone often, some affection does develop, so the affectionate relationship that grew between HL and the Queen is plausible. The sex scenes were necessary but it was too much. In the 1st encounter w the Queen, HL couldnt complete his "task" as he was used to the King and becos he didnt want to fail and disappoint, he pushed himself on the 2nd encounter. Also not enough spent on showing HL's guilt and confusion abt what was love and whether it was true love between him and the King. Kudos to the PD for deciding to do this, its definitely not the usual Korean drama/movieland subject. i watched this becos of Jo In Sung (im watching early works of some of the actors) and i must say his performance in this is mediocre. I dont think much of Song's acting. I have to agree that it is JJM that held the movie together.
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108 Beezus
January 14, 2015 at 5:55 AM
I, unexpectedly, love this movie and the performances. I do think the position the Queen found herself in should have been played up more but ultimately, this is the king and his chief giard's story. The queen easily could have been the frozen flower from title as she was left to languish as a virgin (the unplucked or "frozen" flower) for ten years.
On many forums the majority of posters mention the king was betrayed but in truth, he was the only betrayor (although he looked beautiful doing it!) He betrayed his country, his queen, and his lover in making the request. He set off all subsequent events and then couldn't handle the fact that he could not control the inner heart of his lover.
The story is not about a homosexual or heterosexual love affair, it's about obsession and control.
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109 thepersontyping
February 11, 2015 at 8:03 PM
I'm with the writer on a few points. I find it disturbing the number of people who think he lied when he didn't love the king. The king manipulated and groomed a young boy to be his lover and when his predisposition to love a woman came through, The king castrated him And killed all his friends. He turned his head because his love had been pulled from the room and he was hoping for an explanation.
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110 theanalyst
February 16, 2015 at 11:18 AM
So there are a couple of things I want to point out and discuss...
1. When the King goes to visit HL in his cell (post castration) towards the end he says "Now we are the same".
I'm a bit confused by what he meant by this. Is it possible that the King had a condition that left him medically incapable of 'getting it up' (in blunt terms).
This could explain why he wanted the person he trusted the most to consummate his wife because he couldnt.
2. Like many of you said, HL probably wasn't in love with the King. Infact I dont think he loved anyone. With the King his devotion and respect was all he knew. With the Queen it was all lust and passion. Since his experience with the queen was new and unheard of for him, he was probably drawn in more.
Which leads me to believe he wasnt gay or bi... just confused. Like a little kid who cant pick between the familiar vanilla ice cream flavor and a completely new exotic bubblegum one.
3. Also I think till the end, the King was just testing HL. He wanted to see where his love and loyalty truly lies. And this is probably what HL realizes in the end too when he sees the queen alive and turns towards the King.
4. And finally, the epilogue. What was that?
Is the final scene a sort of confirmation for the viewers... that it was infact about a twisted love story between King and guard?
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111 shann
June 11, 2015 at 10:03 PM
I maybe be on minority here as I am more on Hong Lim and the Queen's side even though I sympathize all 3 of them.
The main focus of the movie is still the love between the guys. Ironically, the bed scenes between the Queen and HL I think serves more to bring out the jealousy of the King, made us empathize with him and question if what's between the Queen and HL was mere lust. If the story is about the Queen and HL I believe the bed scenes would be cut out for more heartwarming interactions between them.
The reason I am on the Queen's side is because I believe that's who HL truly loves. I think he is Bi (at least not straight) but I also think he may be a bit misguided. He was 10(?) at the time he met the King, who's already a teen (18?). The King treats him nicely, teaches him lots of things, they are together all the time. He's who he is now because of the King and he's also a patriot. Under those circumstances, it's understandably he'd return the affection he's given. I think he loves the King but not in the same way he was loved.
We see him taking glimpses on the Queen (even before the sex order). I think he's been paying attention on her but never really understand his own feelings or not even dare to face it. After all, they've known each other for 10 years no matter how few direct interactions there were. To her, he's the guy that her husband loves. She resents him. To him, he feels guilty and pity her. They must have been secretly watching one another for different reason. They are not indifferent towards each other. I wish there were scenes of young Queen as well. But oh well, she's not really the lead here.
So, I do believe HL's confirmed of his own feelings after the sex, of the passion he never had before and it confused him. He's definitely cared a great deal for the King and I'll say he loved him. But I am not sure if he loved him as a man and lover for how fast he fell head over heels for the Queen. I think the answer will never be clear unless the King is not a King. It's a suffocated, one lop sided love and a love HL never dare to reject.
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112 fer27
June 21, 2015 at 11:30 PM
I think the plot was good, and the acting was good, but all the nude scenes weren't the right choice for Song Ji Hyo's carreer.
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113 zhee
October 8, 2015 at 4:03 AM
I've been meaning to watch the movie for so long and now i finally able to watch it. I love it. But just as most of you, I too was confused with the ending. At first I don't know whether to believe HL when he said he never love the king at all romantically. But I realized he did love the king the only way he knew how but as he discover a different kind of love with the queen, i think he realized then that what he felt for the king wasn't the romantic love but still its obvious how great his devotion, loyalty and respect as well as love is for the king. On the other hand, the king's love for him was so great that it was bordering on obsession and rather selfish that he was willing to do everything just to have HL by his side.
For me, that last part where HL lifted his head one last time to look at the King after finding out that the queen was in fact still alive, was him realizing that there's still goodness left in the king he once look up to that he wouldn't kill the queen and his child. And I also think that the reason why the king faked the queen's death was to lure HongLim back to the palace as well as for him to see HL's reaction, whether he'll take revenge or if he'll go back to him.
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zhee
October 8, 2015 at 4:08 AM
Or what I meant there was him being right about believing in the goodness in the king he once looked up to.
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zhee
October 8, 2015 at 4:17 AM
Or rather him being wrong in not believing in the goodness of the king he once look up to. >_<
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114 RLD
November 2, 2015 at 10:31 AM
It was hard to find this film on-line, now. The You-tube versions were kinda messed up. Finally found it in a watchable format on DRAMAGLAXAY.
It was a good film, it's still on my mind and I watched it last night. I thought it was a sad film. The only one of the 3, King, Chief and Queen, who was happy was the King, until he had to produce an heir or loose the crown. He was a very, very, selfish man. Yes, I believe he truly loved the Chief, but, more as a treasured possession. I don't really think he was concerned about the Chiefs "true" preference, and treated him like a prize breed stallion for producing an heir. The king didn't want to perform the act, so, he had his lover/treasured friend, do it for him. Many men, through the centuries, who have been gay but were required to produce an heir have figured out ways to endure "the act" and get the seeds planted. This King didn't want to and didn't think he should even put forth any kind of effort; he just ordered someone else to do it for him. It's sad that the Chief and the Queen, who were able to genuinely, give each other physical and emotional pleasure could not have any time to together to just revel in each others company. She showed him love w/ those beautiful rice cakes. He began to show her love by giving her the cachet. It was all the tenderness they could afford to show. Once the feelings started to blossom things became very dangerous, and they knew it, but, it didn't stop them from taking foolish risks. That's passion for ya'. This could have had a happy ending if the King wasn't so possessive and jealous; if he truly loved the Chief as a person, and not a possession. I don't know if Chief had enough love in him to serve both the King and Queen, but, I'm sure it wasn't out of the realm of possibility, and heirs would have been produced, a line would have continued. Instead, a usually self contained ruler went berserk and started slicing people up. The last scene of the painting coming alive was poetic, but, because of the slaughter, it was inappropriate. These two would still be at each others throats in the after-life.
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115 Sakaki
August 10, 2016 at 7:06 PM
Despite some setbacks, I truly enjoyed this movie - mostly for its core themes. I agree that this movie was centered around the relationship between the King and Hong Lim (HL), and how it all came crashing down when the Queen came into the picture.
Think of the King for a moment. He was enthroned at a very young age, but from what I observed he had little support in court. Imagine the stress and anxiety it would deal to such a young boy. Creating his kingsguard was probably an act to establish some control in his life. He had men who were made to serve and be loyal only to him. (It's quite amusing that he was better with the sword than any of them) And then he favored Hong Lim, who would become captain of the guard. In my opinion, he viewed HL as sort of an anchor - the ultimate lover solely devoted to him.
Desire, in my opinion, is not necessarily love. Desire could also be attributed to adventure and also to obsession (you know, the sick kind). I completely understood why the King went ballistic, but what does he stand to gain in retrieving a vengeful HL? Does he not care if HL is utterly heartbroken? Or even despised him? Was the King begging to die or something? Of course guts will fly when castration and beheading comrades (or lying that the queen is dead) is one's tactic for acquiring loyalty/love. What would YOU do if anyone did that? Would you walk back to such a messed up relationship? NO? I didn't think so.
The King was done for in all situations. At that point I knew either him or HL (in this movie, both) will die. As for HL saying that he never loved his King, I think it was untrue. It was clear that they shared a bond, platonic at most - love, but not that kind of love. HL was speaking mostly out of blind rage, but it did the job. The King, in his shock, didn't resist the stab to his torso. What a final blow. He never knew HL at all, to be asking such things.
Two words: POWER DYNAMICS. Come on guys. Just look at the ocean-wide gap between the King and a guard. He gave HL special treatment, the pleasure of his company and most of all, done stupid things to act on those feelings. What does HL have to give aside from total devotion? And the king had it.
The King basically was in control in their relationship. HL was always looking at the King's back, and if lucky will be rewarded a back glance (metaphorically speaking). He had little to no grasp on his own life. Ironic, really, that the King was robbing HL of his options - making the latter the same as he was all those years ago.
But then things get complicated. HL becomes irrevocably attracted to the Queen, and starts defying his King. HL got a small nib on true freedom - well, stupid things to do but what do I know? - and drowned in euphoria. Not one of them was cautious enough, and thus led to all the drama. Oh my god this movie. What a vicious cycle.
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116 TheMessWeAreIn
July 3, 2017 at 4:06 PM
I browsed the email thread, so I may have missed mentioned of what I thought was the key scene in the movie and its implications: Namely, the sex scene between The King and Hong Lim.
That scene was very, very hot and far more passionate than any of the other scenes in the movie. I suspect I'm not the only viewer who went back and watched the scene more than once. What you saw there, unlike the other scenes, were two actors totally indistinguishable from the characters. Something very special was going on then and there.
It's hard to believe anyone watching that scene would say the King and Hong Lim were not in love or that Hong-Lim's love was only "filial" (hardly!) or that Hong Lim was not being entirely dishonest when, at the point of dying, he said he never loved the King at all.
Hong Lim's final look to the King and the concluding reveries from the past make little sense otherwise.
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fleur
April 3, 2018 at 4:30 AM
''concluding reveries of the past'' - that was a king's dream (not hong lim's, little did the King care about his guard's dreams) wherein the real painting hong lim does not recognise himself and asks for a bow, he can shoot a straw. king gave it to him in the painting, not in real life. in real life he he wasn't fair at all - well, he was the King, afterall. that reverie. dream of riding together, put into a pianting that one of the lovers asks for a choice of freedom, mainly, is an invitation for us all to look past appearances and what a love - relationships appears to be .
Hong Lim does not kill the King out of love for him - although he loved and respected him once, as a king should be loved and respected - but not anymore.
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117 Susan
January 9, 2020 at 8:36 PM
I've found this film online in different places over the years, just watched it again. It's now about 10 years after its release. I thought Jo In-Sung was brilliant. His performance was so brave, passionate, nuanced and heart-breaking. Chief Hong is one of my favorite characters. I only wish Jo In-Sung chose more projects, and that his work was easier to find, but at the same time, I'm glad he's drawn to interesting, challenging roles, and doesn't take just anything. I came here to see the comments regarding thoughts on the ending, and I read them all. For me, Chief Hong honestly answered the king's question as to whether he had ever loved him, when he said "No". He told the king, " you led me to love, and I'm grateful". So anything he may have felt for the king was nothing like the love he felt for the queen. Not even close, and discovering the difference changed everyone's life.
As to him seeing the queen alive, and then turning his head toward the king, I think he's truly grateful in his last moments that the king spared her and his child, and that the king was capable of one decent thing after all the carnage.
To me, the ending flashback of him as a child agreeing to live in the palace shows the innocence of youth when you don't know any better. That little boy didn't know what he was agreeing to, or what he would be missing, in the king's gilded cage. Being the king's favorite/lover/wife was all he knew from such a young age, so when he was allowed his natural heterosexuality to be brought forth, it was like a dam had burst. But the beauty of the relationship with the queen is that it wasn't just the sex. These two had so much in common, when you think about it. Trapped in a completely controlled environment and bound by rules, wanting to be loved as a person, not just a possession, a natural kindness and sensitivity, thoughtfulness.
One of my favorite scenes is where you see Chief Hong refuse the flower cakes at the party, but when the queen makes some for him, herself, and tells him that women make these for the one they love, and she always wanted to do that. He takes a bite, and is completely overcome with emotion. She asks if it is ok, and he can barely get the words out, " It's exquisite" Some people have criticized JIS performance as being bland, but if you can't see the simmer beneath the surface, those eyes, even the scenes where he is trying to be calm, and the only clue is he swallows hard, please watch it again. Sometimes, less is more. In this case, it also illustrates Chief Hong's struggle between complacent obedience to another's will (king), and fulfillment of his own needs and desires, as a human being and as a man. I agree with Bong Joon-Ho that if you overcome the tiny barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films, and I would add, performances. Cheers!
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118 ArtbyLilD
May 26, 2020 at 3:15 PM
I've been wanting to see this movie for years. Can't believe it took me this long to find a version with English subtitles. I can't say I loved the movie, but it left me in a sleepless night LOL. The emotions portrayed were so raw that they definitely affected me. Some of the sex scenes seemed too long and excessive, but perhaps the director wanted to show the realness of raw passion and lust, or how love blossoms (although I can't imagine it being anything more than lust/passion confused to be love). This was a tragic story Shakespearean style, but in ancient courts I'm sure many more of these tragedies go undocumented. I think Hong Lim did love the king, not in a romantic way, perhaps, but in the kind of love and servitude for one's king. His relationship with the queen "unfroze" the latent sexual desire he never knew he had. Whether it was true romantic love or plain lust is hard to tell. When he used his last ounce of breath to turn toward the king, it was very telling that he felt something deep. The epilogue seemed to show the two soulmates in their idyllic afterlife. Anyhow, thanks again for the wonderful recap!
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119 Balajadia
June 12, 2020 at 12:53 PM
I have just started watching Korean shows. I unfortunately ran into this film (LOL). The story line is excellent but the unnecessary explicit love scenes were overly exagerated. I am not a conservative person, far from it but I feel that this could have be done better. There are other ways to touch people's imagination effectively. The worse part for me was that I liked these two male actors. I am now on the fence with them ... LOL.
I liked everything about the film but not the explicit loves scenes. Sorry to say. Maybe I am naive about the historical asian movies. I have seen a lot of historical asian films but this is the first one that I was left flabergasted.
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120 Sammy
October 16, 2022 at 12:30 AM
I love the movie so far but I'm just so curious of who's the TOP and the BOTTOM? please tell me... I can't stop thinking about Thissss.. It's beautiful the movie. The director did a good job of picking the characters into this movie.
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121 Stafford Francis
October 24, 2022 at 3:17 PM
I’ve seen so many mixed reviews on this movie and some reactions sort of puzzled me a bit. I wonder if certain facts according to the movie were even considered. So I want to talk about a few observations I made and would welcome any feedback or comments on these observations.
First, the movie started off by laying the foundation of understanding what the consequences are if one of the King’s guard should have an affair with any of the female subjects in the palace. We see where the guard was going to be executed had it not been the intervention of the Chief guard. He begged the King to spare the guards life as he made a mistake. So the King rethought his decision and forgave the guard. All the guard knew the penalty for this particular action. One of the guards even made a comment stating that they all knew the penalty for this offense. Therefore, let’s understand that this was clear knowledge for all the guards, especially the chief.
Secondly, I think most of us make comments based on today’s standards and how we see things from our viewpoints in todays society. I just wanted to ensure that we were making comments bearing in mind that today’s standards are very different from the days in which the movie is representing. Please remember as you debate your thoughts, that in that time period, these men were the King’s subject, as the chief mentioned in one of the scenes. This means that these men belonged and were properties of the King’s court. They were taken from their families and raised in the King’s court for his pleasure. Their sole purpose was to serve the King in whatever capacity he chose. Like it or not this was the time period in which the movie is portraying and we have to evaluate the film from that perspective. Therefore apart from the sovereignty of the King in his Kingdom, it was more so for these men, who were raised and trained to serve only the King.
Thirdly, this was no ordinary woman in the Kingdom, this was the queen. If the punishment was severe for a guard to have a relationship with a woman in the court, how much more severe for a guard to do such with the queen? It’s bad when a guard does it because it violates their commitment to the throne, but at least these were unmarried, single women. This was much more egregious because this was a married woman. People tend to over look the fact that again the King had not only the right to ask the chief to go into the Queen, but as subjects of the King they were obligated to obey. I don’t think anyone can rule out the possibility that feelings could be and was developed between the Queen and the Chief , however, this does not does not excuse their liaisons after the times the King had approved. Yes, I know emotions can be powerful and desires can be overwhelming, but it still doesn’t make it right. We can emphasize and we can romanticize the relationship but nothing can justify their actions. The emotions may be real and the love undeniable but so are the facts and...
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122 Mariyam
January 6, 2023 at 5:21 AM
did hong lim even love the king because all this time I just felt bad for the king until he killed those soldiers and put their heads on stake
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