[HanCinema's Image Gallery] "The King and the Clown"
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Lee's film opens with a series of traditional paintings depicting the events that follow.
Jang-seung (Kam Woo-sung) performing a saucy serenade.
Jang-seung takes a dive after realising his partner will be called to a highier official's bedroom.
Jang-seung and Gong-il's first view of the capital city.
Local performers in the capital city.
Jang-seung notices an opportunity to impress the city's peasants.
One of the city's officials who has to mediate between the mad king and ambitious clowns.
After pairing up with three other local performers, the group put on a daring show that mocks the king and his consort.
Royal performers entertaining the king.
During one of the shows it is announced that the fools will be performing for their lives in front of the king.
The neurotic king and his scheming consort.
Jang-seung and Gong-il waiting like gladitors to enter the arena.
So far the king (Jung Jin-young) looks unimpressed by the fumbling fools, but a smile is needed to spare their lives.
Jang-seung tries to keep the act alive while his partners lose their nerve in front of the king.
A slight look of amusement breaks on the queen's face first.
Having now been accepted by the king, the fools conduct a talent search to broaden their act.
The king drinks from a cup poured by his consort, mirroring the posioning his mother faced during his farther's reign.
Gong-gil is summoned to his majesty's private quarters for his personal entertainment. Here Lee chooses a cheeky composition as Gong-il is called to the king for the first time.
Sporting an unnerving smile, the tyrannical king is shown enjoying Gong-il's private show.
Having been exposed to Gong-il's lovliness, our king seems no longer attracted to his current consort.
The king puts on a sad shadow-puppet show for Gong-il, a desperate act that shows the cracks in this king's sanity and further exposes his past traumas.
Jang-seung pages through a historical account of the previous king's life, taking notes for a future performance that enrages the current king further.
Jang-seung atop the tight rope, drowning himself in wine as he awaits the return of his partner from the king's company.
From rags to riches, the performers get ready for their most extravagant performance yet.
Gong-il is all done up here, yet sad and distance. He is the object of desire for both Jang-seung and the Deranged king.
Other performers all also dressed up for the big performance and are as expressive as ever.
Gong-il's character prepares to drink the poision presented by the previous king, a deadly act the causes more bloodshed.
Our king snaps and takes his revenge for his mother's death on those he deems responsible.
Behind that cold exterior lies a deeply troubled and raging man, one who takes a disturbingly great amount of pleasure from performance art.
- C.J. Wheeler (chriscjw@gmail.com; @KoreaOnTheCouch)
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