In Netflix Uprisingdirected by Kim Sang-man and produced/co-written by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, decision to leave), two guys whose bond extends beyond rank and class structures are united and separated amid the unrest of 16th-century Korea. The great and bloody war scenes in Uprising Face the personal battle between nobleman Yi Jong-ryeo (Park Jeong-min) and commoner Cheon Yeong (Gang Dong-won), which unfolds over several years. And while Japan’s invasion of Korea introduces another formidable enemy in Genshin Kikkawa (Jung Sung-il), Jong-ryeo and Cheon Yeong’s struggle reflects the peasant class’s eternal wish for simple dignity . Uprising also stars Cha Seung-won, Kim Shin-rok and Jin Seon-kyu.
UPRISING: Stream it or ignore it?
The bottom line: In the middle of the 500 years of the Joseon Dynasty, it was rare for anyone to think outside the box. Nobles were nobles, commoners were commoners, and slaves were slaves – if a woman was pregnant while a slave, then her fetus also became a slave – and the result of any challenge to this system was a series of conflicts. new beheadings. Despite his role as designated whip-ee to the untouchable young royal Jong-ryeo (Park), Cheon Yeong (Gag) remains defiant in the face of these cruelties. But despite being of low birth, Cheon Yeong nonetheless bonds with Jong-ryeo as they train in martial arts and swordsmanship.
This is not a friendship endorsed by the aristocracy. But before this becomes a bigger problem, Japan’s invasion of Korea throws the king and his court into disarray. War breaks out everywhere, and a fleeing Cheon Yeong becomes the leader of a ragtag civilian militia made up of ordinary people, butchers, and jesters from the town square. With the sword and clothes of his secret friend Jong-ryeo, Cheon Yeong becomes a kind of folk hero for the people. “The God in the Blue Robe” even fights the fearsome Japanese commander Genshin (Jung) to a stalemate in sword combat.
Uprising shuttles between Jong-ryeo and Cheon Yeong as children and young men, showing us their budding friendship on one side and the separation and confusion of wartime on the other. As the palace is destroyed and most Japanese forces retreat, the noble Jong-ryeo must side with the cruel and arrogant King Joseon (Cha), who prefers to punish his subjects for not properly respecting his position, even if they eat the dead. to survive. Once Cheon Yeong foments a revolt from his base in the countryside, it’s only a matter of time before their bond is directly tested. They always treated each other as equals, even if it wasn’t allowed. But after all the wartime destruction and the endless rounds of heads being removed from shoulders, what’s left for Jong-ryeo and Cheon Yeong is the only question that matters. Are we still friends?
What films will this remind you of? In The Fortressalso on Netflix, Joseon must defend itself against 17th-century Qing invaders. And for breathtaking historical fiction on the high seas with more than a touch of humor, look no further than the swinging ropes and clashing swords on the deck of Pirates: the last royal treasure.
Performances to watch: Kim Shin-rok (Hell) is fantastic in Uprising as the brave commoner warrior Beom-dong. Beom-dong will tell anyone who needs to know how it’s going. And if they don’t listen, well, then the six feet long pyeongon the scourge she wields will speak in her place.
Memorable dialogues: We hope that when Park Jeong-min reads his script for Uprisinghe agreed on the spot to play the courageous royal Yi Jeong-ryeo, because how could anyone acting in a battle sequence not want to say a line as absolutely cold as this:
“You will never get out of here alive. We will chew your flesh, skin you and sleep in your hide.
Sex and skin: None. It’s hard to look for love or romance when you’re too busy either starving, leading a militia for seven years followed by a DIY revolt, or being the king of a country so lost in detachment from his position that one becomes the real enemy of your subjects.
Our opinion: The final count of double crosses and even some triple crosses in Uprising is roughly equal to the impressive number of heads that are summarily removed from bodies throughout this long historical epic. As its timeline bounces around, following Jeong-ryeo and Cheon Yeong’s friendship as it bears fruit, goes through difficult times, and finds its way back to stasis, Uprising can get lost trying to establish everything that’s going on around its central duo. But the battles are thrilling – especially with the clash of 16th-century warfare technologies, where matchlock muskets meet long swords, bows and arrows and a host of improvised weapons – and the sets, costume design and the terrific soundtrack provide structural support for its historical story. epic qualities.
By the time the film gets to a foggy fight sequence pitting most of its principles against each other – but also in defense of each other; as we said, there is a lot of subterfuge – Uprising has had its difficult moments, but these are countered in particular by the personal story of Jeong-ryeo and Cheon Yeong. This film reaches, then it reaches again. It sprawls across the landscape, incorporating invading armies and a horde of hidden treasures as well as a Joseon king who is somehow the most despicable person in a war full of unspeakable tragedies. But it still comes down to two guys whose friendship might not be recognized in a country with such a rigid class structure.
Our call: Spread it! Uprising elevates its historical epic gameplay with large-scale battles, courtly deceptions, and a roaring, satisfying soundtrack. But it is with the forbidden but unwavering friendship at its center that it remains most compelling.
Johnny Loftus (@glennganges) is a free-lance freelance writer and editor in Chicagoland. Her work has been published in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media and Nicki Swift.
