Chihwaseon (2003)
83%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 5 nominations
Chihwaseon is a film that is as much a work of art as the paintings of its subject, Jang Seung-up. Im Kwon-taek’s direction is masterful, capturing the essence of Seung-up’s genius without resorting to crude speculation. The cinematography by Jeon Il-seong is breathtaking, matching the beauty of Seung-up’s paintings while still maintaining a sense of realism. Choi Min-sik’s performance as Seung-up is nothing short of extraordinary, capturing the mercurial moods of the artist with ease. While some may find the film remote and soulless, it is a fascinating and moving study of an artist who conforms to western archetypes of the artist as rebel and hedonist. In short, Chihwaseon is a film that is drunk on the beauty of art and poetry, and it is a must-see for anyone who loves both.
Drunk on Women and Poetry is a South Korean film that tells the story of Jang Seung-up, a late 19th century painter. Critics have praised the film for its exquisite visual compositions and authentic portrayal of the artist’s genius. However, some have criticized the film for being too focused on the livelier and more spectacular parts of Seung-up’s life, neglecting the dull historical and biographical stretches. Despite this, the film remains an elegant and painterly masterpiece, with an extraordinary performance by the sturdy and goateed Choi Min-sik. So grab a glass of wine, get drunk on the beauty of this film, and let yourself be swept away by the soul of another.
Production Company(ies)
Art Matters Inc., BBC Television, Edelman Family Fund,
Distributor
Kino Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
South Korea
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 57m
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Language(s):Korean, Japanese
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 14, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 11, 2007
Genre(s)
Biography/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Choi Min-sik, Ahn Sung-ki, Yoo Ho-jeong, Kim Yeo-jin, Jeong Tae-u, Choi Jong-Seong, directed by Im Kwon-taek, written by Kim Yeong-ok, Im Kwon-taek, biography, drama, box office gross $59.4K, Kino Pictures, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, Flat (1.85:1), MPAA rating, reviewed by Alexander Walker, Desson Thomson, Neil Smith, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Michael Wilmington, Geoffrey Macnab, Panos Kotzathanasis, Par Parekh, MaryAnn Johanson, Judith Egerton, Donald Munro, Nik Huggins, starring Choi Min-sik as Jang Seung-up, Ahn Sung-ki as Kim Byung-Moon, Yoo Ho-jeong as Mae-hyang, Kim Yeo-jin as Jin-jong, Jeong Tae-u, Choi Jong-Seong
Worldwide gross: $6,988,181
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,590,336
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,921
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,263,941
US/Canada gross: $64,029
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $106,196
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,657
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,196
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $13,594
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,626
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ahn Sung-ki – Kim Byung-Moon
Yoo Ho-jeong – Mae-hyang
Kim Yeo-jin – Jin-jong
Jeong Tae-u –
Choi Jong-Seong – Self
Director(s)
Im Kwon-taek
Writer(s)
Kim Yeong-ok, Im Kwon-taek
Producer(s)
Lee Tae-won
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (7)
This South Korean film is one of the few authentic artist biopics ever created for the screen. It doesn’t crudely guess at the source of the late 19th century painter Jang Seung-up’s genius. It simply exhibits it.
January 10, 2018
Alexander Walker
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
It is quietly observant, with a detached eye for the telling moment, and the visual compositions are often exquisite.
June 20, 2003
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The problem is, painting isn’t a spectator sport, as the interminable scenes of Jang at work continually confirm.
June 6, 2003 | Rating: 2/5
Neil Smith
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
[Chihwaseon] rushes through the life of its subject in nimble leaps and bounds, concentrating on the livelier and more spectacular parts and avoiding the dull historical and biographical stretches.
June 6, 2003 | Rating: 2/4
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Another masterpiece from one of the world’s more neglected great directors, a master artist who here reveals the soul of another.
June 5, 2003 | Rating: 4/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating, consummately crafted and ultimately moving study of a man who conforms surprisingly closely to western archetypes of the artist as rebel and hedonist.
June 3, 2003
Geoffrey Macnab
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Im Kwon-taek’s narrative approach focuses on detail, regarding both the actual story and the overall visuals, with Jeon Il-seong’s cinematography matching the actual paintings of Seung-up in beauty, without neglecting realism
July 26, 2020
Panos Kotzathanasis
HanCinema
In spite of these few moments of wonder, and even the dense, moving thematic content, the film ultimately doesn’t leave a lasting taste.
May 15, 2007
Par Parekh
Film Journal International
[A]n elegant, painterly film…
August 8, 2004
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
The sturdy and goateed Choi Min-sik gives an extraordinary performance as the mercurial Ohwon whose moods fluctuate from sadness to rage, anguish, and depression.
June 25, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Judith Egerton
Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
For all its beauty and artistic ambition, the film remained stubbornly remote and soulless to me.
January 9, 2004 | Rating: C
Donald Munro
Fresno Bee
November 6, 2003 | Rating: 7/10
Nik Huggins
Future Movies UK…
Plot
The struggles of an artist. Jang Seung-up (1843-1897), also called Owon, focusing on the years 1882 to 1897, when Korea was in political upheaval, caught between China and Japan, the conservative dynasty dying, and peasant revolt at hand. Jang, born poor, has genius; a merchant, Kim, becomes his patron, finding him a teacher. Jang must convince others that a commoner can have talent, then move beyond his ability to copy old masters and find his own style. He’s bedeviled by a temper and alcohol, arguments with patrons as he seeks commissions, and relationships with kisaeng, particularly Mae-hyang, that start and stop. It’s the life of a restless spirit producing great art.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Choi Min-sik gives an extraordinary performance as the mercurial Jang Seung-Up.
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