Kang Haneul depicts life of occupation-era poet in Dongju
by girlfriday
This movie will surely make me cry, but it looks like a must-watch. Kang Haneul (Youths Over Flowers in Iceland, Misaeng) has a new project that’ll hit theaters next week: It’s the latest from acclaimed director Lee Jun-ik (Sado, King and the Clown) called Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet, based on the story of real-life occupation-era poet Yoon Dong-ju, who fought and died as a member of the independence movement and posthumously became known as a resistance poet.
The film co-stars Park Jung-min (You’re All Surrounded) as Dong-ju’s cousin Mong-gyu, the other half of an inseparable pair. They grew up in the same house since birth and were best friends who did everything together, but were also complete opposites who struggled to see eye-to-eye. Dong-ju was a literature student with a gift for poetry, while Mong-gyu was an independence fighter with firm beliefs, who argued that they should be taking up guns, not pens.
They were born in 1917 during the Japanese occupation, and together went to university in Japan in 1942. A year later they were arrested for their involvement in resistance movements, and Yoon Dong-ju died while imprisoned in 1945. Though he had failed to get his poetry published during his lifetime, a collection of his work that he’d titled “Sky, Wind, Star, and Poem” (also called “Heaven and the Wind and the Stars and Poetry”) was published posthumously in 1948.
His work depicts the tragic realities of his era and is described as conflicted and introspective, but also containing hope and courage. He wrote even in his darkest moments while imprisoned, and the film explores the life story that shaped his work. The teaser’s tagline says, “In a dark time when name, language, and dreams were taken. An incomplete youth that shone brightly. A name we must remember. Dongju.”
Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet premieres in theaters February 17.
Via Cine21
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Tags: Kang Haneul, Park Jung-min
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1 Meong
February 11, 2016 at 3:16 AM
This looks like the kind of movie I will love. I'll definitely be watching this!
Loving the black and white posters and stills :)
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2 elvira
February 11, 2016 at 3:35 AM
Curiously, I'm drawn to this movie, and the poster.
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3 Asterido
February 11, 2016 at 3:36 AM
This look alike Indonesia's movie - Gie. And i will definetly watch this kind of story.
Added bonus is Kang Haneul.
I loved him since Iceland flower series. I know that he is a quite good actor but the Iceland series made him so adorable - for me. Ha!
I hope it will be available in Indonesia theatre. *finger-crossed*
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sancheezy
February 11, 2016 at 4:47 AM
I loved Gie too, one of movie that just great about the era, sad that Indonesian move is kinda declining,
I am anticipating this movie too, hope it will available in Indonesia
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wapz
February 11, 2016 at 7:06 AM
Do you know where can I watch Gie with eng subs?
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kanz
February 12, 2016 at 8:38 AM
you can download the movie and then download the subs separately. I'm not sure if there's a site that upload the engsubbed movie.
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4 blg
February 11, 2016 at 3:50 AM
This looks like it will be another masterpiece from the director...cant wait to watch it(which probably be nearly a year later -_-)
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5 kitty
February 11, 2016 at 4:38 AM
i feel like crying after just seeing the stills. do i dare watch? huuu
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6 sancheezy
February 11, 2016 at 4:48 AM
seems like a tearjerker movie but I am on board
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7 Rerz
February 11, 2016 at 4:54 AM
I feel like crying
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8 wapz
February 11, 2016 at 5:35 AM
This is totally my kind of mobie. Does someone know movies of the same type? Plus are movies like sado and veteran available with proper subs?
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9 gaeinalee
February 11, 2016 at 5:52 AM
From the preview, the movie seems artfully written, produced and acted, and knotted my heart. But I love KHN since Monstar, I even stay in cringe-worthy Heirs just for him and KWB. I'm sure I'll survive the heart wrenching-poetic movie such as this.
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skelly
February 11, 2016 at 6:17 AM
KHN didn't really attract my attention until I saw him in the first few episodes of Angel Eyes, where he played the younger version of the hero. He just killed it, he was so young and intense and vulnerable that the "adult" that followed him (Lee Sang Yoon) pales in comparison. I didn't really care for his work in Heirs, he phoned in the spoiled rich kid, but I liked how different he looked...even with his very distinctive features, each of his characters looks quite a bit different. That's a great quality for an actor to have. This movie looks like a fabulous fit for him - he can really explore range here.
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10 Kent
February 11, 2016 at 6:23 AM
After seeing the post, I wanted to know the history of Dong ju and suffrage during the Japanese totalitarianism and after I can see that it will be box office hit in Korea. I will watching the movie raw if the subtitles take long to come.
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fanwho
February 11, 2016 at 9:19 AM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yun_Dong-ju
Arrested as a thought criminal, and died in the prison at the young age of 29 (in 1945, How sad he couldn't hang on a few more months). My sister said she visited his museum(?) during her trip to BaekDooSan (from China side) and got teared up reading his story. It said he was used and died due to Maruta (Vivisection?) experiement and his last word was 'Mother!'.
Don't know if it is true, still very sad.
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ck1Oz
February 11, 2016 at 11:42 AM
It's not he couldn't hang on. Don't they torture them? And please not vivisection. OMG.
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Sera The Ms Temper
February 11, 2016 at 6:09 PM
whatt....
Omaigod reading this already made me feel so sad ;(
Don't know if i can bring myself to watch the whole movie ;(
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canxi
February 12, 2016 at 10:29 AM
I looked up Maruta (it's horrible, don't do it) and from the teaser it looks like he was part of their germ warfare experiments. ):
Reading about this is so sad and frustrating. So, I can't imagine how it will feel watching it even if just one person's story.
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11 momoisluv
February 11, 2016 at 6:27 AM
The second to the last picture did me in. My god their eyes speaks a thousand words.
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12 Sera The Ms Temper
February 11, 2016 at 7:28 AM
I love KHN and will definitely watch this.
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13 Kaylie
February 11, 2016 at 7:58 AM
Ah Kang Haneul looking so handsome and earnest. I have a soft spot for him always. Everyone here hates Heirs but I discovered him because of that show so it's not without its redeeming qualities, heh.
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14 Kiara
February 11, 2016 at 8:48 AM
I hope he is able to carry this movie well. Director Lee Jun-ik made an overnight sensation out of Lee Junki in The King and the Clown.
I hope it's going to make a solid leading man in Kang Haneul.
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15 juniper
February 11, 2016 at 9:31 AM
So basically, The Count of Myeongdong: 40s Edition (or if we're feeling cynical, Flower Boy Edition). Now that was a drama. Sometimes it felt more poetic than its characters works, even, but that's Jung Ha-yeon for you.
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Kiara
February 11, 2016 at 9:57 AM
It's so sad that we keep referring to his old dramas and going back to watching them over and over.
I've been watching old movies and Age of Warriors while waiting for a good drama to watch.
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juniper
February 11, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Queen Insoo is on episode 38 now! That should cheer you up :)
I need to get back to Age of Warriors! Merchant is bipolar and Jang Yeong-sil is just plain dumb, so I'm back to the drawing board on sageuk. I've been thinking about starting Im Kkeok Jung.
I haven't watched a movie in a long time actually, but there are two I actually want to see now (not K film)--Birth of a Nation (the new one, not the KKK movie from 1915 lol) and Pedro Almodovar's new movie Julieta, which is coming out in Spain in April (I'll have to wait lol).
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Kiara
February 12, 2016 at 6:53 AM
That's awesome! Can't wait for it to be done.:).
I'm almost done with Age of Warriors. It's good to go back to sageuks with historical significance and actors who can do sageuks properly.
That's too bad about Jang Yeong-sil but what did we expect from 2 newbie writers. Why didn't they keep Jung Hyun-Min who did a great job with Jeong Do Jeon? *sigh* Maybe he is working on their next big authentic sageuk (I hope).
Im Kkeok Jung and the writer of Eight Days. That's worth checking out. I want to watch Land but I can't find it anywhere :(.
Julieta sounds intriguing although I have no clue about Spanish history. I'm sure it'll be great with Pedro Almodovar directing it.
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juniper
February 12, 2016 at 7:10 AM
Almodovar is my favorite--I feel like he's one of the few directors out there that really gets women and female experience. He's kind of like the Jung Ha-yeon of the film world for me lol.
I'm glad Age of Warriors is good to the last drop. I was in the 40s somewhere when I left off--so only 110 episodes left to go haha.
16 aegiomma
February 11, 2016 at 12:04 PM
I love KHN but I just looked up the prison the poet went to and now I'm traumatized. I don't think I can watch this.
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17 blueribbon
February 11, 2016 at 3:14 PM
I often wonder why they don't choose this kind of movies to summit to the Oscars. These are the type of movies the academy loves. They sometimes summit movies that while some are good, due to the story they don't even have a chance.
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18 winda
February 11, 2016 at 6:24 PM
i love his character in monstar...and angel eyes too... i'm crying a lot after watching him at angel eyes...but in twenty...i'm laught so much...because he's so funny....he's so multitalented..remember his singing at rm...can't wait for this movie too... yeah...it makes me remember gie too... nicholas saputra ...he's so multitalented and great actor too..
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19 Sailor Mars
February 11, 2016 at 7:20 PM
Park Jung Min is a really good actor. I watched Bleak Night and Tinker Ticker, and he was amazing in both works. I watched some episodes of Valid Love too and he also acted well, even though his character was annoying sometimes.
Kang Ha Neul looks good. I can't say I'm a fan, probably because I see some overrating comments, but I appreciate his work.
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20 linked
February 12, 2016 at 12:48 AM
Amazing just how expressive his facial features are... I cried just looking at the poster shot of Kang Haneul in solitary. The black and white really enhance the melancholy. I'm excited for this and his future works!
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21 Kaybee
February 12, 2016 at 7:45 AM
The stills looks heart wrenching.... I'll cry buckets I know since my heart is already torn looking at the photos... .
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22 kanz
February 12, 2016 at 8:41 AM
I love Kang Ha Neul, I love poetry and I love the director, one of my favorite Korean directors.
So I definitely will watch this!
Speaking of Japanese occupation, Dong Ju must live in the same era as Chairil Anwar, Amir Hamzah, and others (Indonesian poets). I wonder if he also have same style/substance with other poets in that era?
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23 canxi
February 12, 2016 at 10:11 AM
Well, it looks amazing and I love the black and white.
Really would love to see this film though yes, I'll probably cry all the way through. ):
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24 scout
February 12, 2016 at 10:44 PM
must watch!!! i love works about poets/poetry. that's why i loved the drama 'a thousand days' promise' because the main character would frequently recite poems. and khn was the perfect actor for this because he's such an old soul.
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25 kalel
February 13, 2016 at 12:28 PM
The director made me fall for Jun-ki for life - and I'll always be grateful for that! From the very first time I saw him in Monster, I knew KHN would become an amazing artist. Ever since that drama, he's being on my Top-5 list of young actors for whom the limit is the sky, provided the industry give them a fair chance (and a few good projects. I hope BBJX à la Coreana help both my "precious"). The film obviously makes an artistic statement about a story that is definitely NOT suitable for teenagers (finally!). The poster alone sets the right mood and makes me anticipate for the film itself. Good luck to the cast and crew!
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