Chihwaseon (Painted Fire)

Starring:Min-sik Choi, Sung-kee Ahn, Ho-jeong Yu, Yeo-jin Kim, Ye-jin Son, Jin-seo Yun
Director: Kwon-taek Im
Studio: Kino Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

GOOD MOVIE
Beautiful cinematography....
A Masterpiece Of Storytelling And Cinematography
Can I put My Seed in your Furrow?
Absolutely Gorgeous

Chihwaseon (Painted Fire)
Starring: Min-sik Choi , Sung-kee Ahn , Ho-jeong Yu , Yeo-jin Kim , and Ye-jin Son
Director: Kwon-taek Im
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
Chunhyang
The Way Home
Oasis
Ditto

ASIN: B0001611CO
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Customer Reviews:

GOOD MOVIE.......2007-05-22

Chihwaseon is a charming film, full elements of the artist symbolism. Excellent visual work in this production.

Beautiful cinematography...........2007-05-05

One of the reasons that I love Amazon is because of Listmania! I have countless books, movies, other products that I never would have known about via this vehicle. Which is how I found, "Painted Fire".

My mother is Korean. I was looking for movies to buy for her and thought she would particularly enjoy this one. I, for one, loved it.

It paints a vivid portrait of the turbulent life of Korea's greatest artist, Jang Seung-up or Ohwon as he comes to be called. Cho Min-sik does a fantastic job of portraying the passionate, temperamental artist who also has a rock star's lust for life.

While you watch his highs and lows, you're also following the highs and lows of ninteenth century Korean history.

You can find a synopsis of the movie above and with other reviews I'm sure. But what keeps me watching this movie is how gorgeous it was to watch. You could take stills of the movie and hang them on your wall as artwork. It's mesmerizing.

It made me realize how much I missed Korea and why I keep going back.

A Masterpiece Of Storytelling And Cinematography.......2006-08-26

For those who have seen Min-sik Choi in OLDBOY, I would highly recommend this beautiful work of drama and cinematography. I liked everything about "Painted Fire" [CHIHWAESON] when I first saw it a few years ago. The story is about the life of one of the most celebrated and gifted artists in Korean history. Coming from humble and poor origins, the artist Jang Seung-ub [Min-sik Choi] had to go to great lengths to prove how good he was. Living in a time when only the 'learned' were considered talented.

But it is his own failings that he must conquer. He is self-destructive by nature, and yet his talent as an artist cannot be overlooked. The fact that much of his artwork, as well as the beautiful paintings that he painted in true life were depicted in the film, only enhanced the film in my opinion. His gift of having a photographic memory to detail helped him to not only remember the paintings of the masters, but he actually improved on their techniques. A truly great, and highly recommended film.

One of the main things about this film which appealed to me was the cinematography in the film. I found it outstanding. This film was not heavily marketed in the USA, which is a shame. Many people I know have never seen this film. And actor Min-sik Choi does an incredibly terrific acting job in the film. This is one of the better Korean drama films I have seen. The film is in subtitles, but do not let this deter you from buying this incredibly beautiful film. At least rent the film, as it is well worth the watch. Highly recommended. [Stars: 5+]

Can I put My Seed in your Furrow?.......2006-01-22

Directed by the man who is considered by many to be the father of South Korean cinema, Painted Fire, Chihwaeson, is the filmic biography of Jang Seung-up, professional name Ohwon, who despite his humble beginnings and the war torn times in which he lived became one of Korea's most respected artists.

His artistic talent discovered at a very young age, Seung-ub was both snubbed by other Korean artists, who not only tended to be well read in the Confucian classics, but also were of high class, because he was "unlearned" in the ways of art. However, with his photographic memory and ability to reproduce, and some ways improve, the works of Korean and Chinese masters, Seung-ub quickly rose in the ranks and was asked to produce paintings for nobles and even the king's family.

Seung-ub, played by the incomparable Choi Min-sik, however, cannot escape his plebian roots. Already tormented by the thought that his work is nothing but copies of the masters, Seung-ub drinks himself into stupors daily and sleeps around with numerous kisaengs, courtesans, who he is not hesitant to beat if he feels them to be disloyal. However, despite these vices, Seung-ub is able to surpass his "betters" and create art that fuels the soul of the Korean people while they withstand the inner fighting of the Conservatives and the Revisionists, the former supported by China and the latter supported by Japan both of which had eyes on the Korean peninsula.

Having been immersed in the violent, flamboyant world of Chan Park-wook, the violent but silent films of Kim-Ki-duk, and several fluffy romantic comedy films, Im Kwon-taek's film was quite a different experience for me. Set in 19th century Korea, Im is able to display the beauty of traditional Korean dress and architecture, but unlike the vibrancy displayed in The Duelist, the setting is quite subdued and one can sense the feeling of helplessness people feel when confronted with deep conflicts within the environs of their own county. Revolutionists being marched off to be executed by Chinese soldiers, Korean soldiers gunning down peasants, one can see why the fantasy-laden artwork struck a chord with the Korean populace because it transported them away from their reality.

A somewhat disjointed film because of the way it jumps around between scenes and periods within Seung-ub's life, Painted Fire, however, is still an enjoyable and quiet film that tells the history of not only a great artist, but the country in which he lived.

Absolutely Gorgeous.......2004-04-24

This is the fascinating and exquisitely filmed story of a Korean painter struggling with his cultural, political, and artistic identity during tumultuous political upheavals of late 19th Century Korea. Being a painter myself, I have seen dozens of films about artists, most of which were unsatisfying because they failed to depict enough of the artwork or the painting process. This film masterfully and generously accomplishes both, and the cinematography beautifully captures lush, gorgeous images of nature throughout the film. I enjoyed everything about this film -- the acting was excellent, the sets were lovely, it was erotic but tasteful, the dialogue about art was intelligent, and visually it was a feast. The first DVD I've wanted to own.

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