Namhansanseong

South Korea 2017, 139 min.

Korean with English and Czech subtitles

director: Hwang Dong-hyuk

starring: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yoon-seok, Park Hae-il, Park Hee-soon, Go Soo

distributor: CJ Entertainment

During the Qing invasion to Korea in 1636, the King and members of his court resorted to the Namhan mountain fortress. Soon they are surrounded by the Qing Army, hunger and cold. Under the pressure of his counsellors, the King must make the greatest decision of his reign. Will he succumb to the humiliating demand of the intruders to give up the Crown Prince to protect his nation, or will he fight till the end?

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk made a film adaptation of the award-winning bestseller Namhan Fortress by Kim Hoon, with the help of cinematographer Kim Ji-yong who is known to prefer long shots over erratic fast cuts. This gives the actors the chance to build conversational tension and appeal not only to fans of Korean history, but to a larger audience.