Masquerade (2012 film)

Masquerade
Hangul 광해: 왕이 된 남자
Hanja 光海: 王이 된 男子
Revised Romanization Gwanghae: Wang-i Doen Namja
McCune–Reischauer Kwanghae: Wangi Toen Namja
Directed by Choo Chang-min
Produced by Im Sang-jin
Won Dong-yeon
Kim Ho-seong
Mikey Lee
Written by Hwang Jo-yoon
Starring Lee Byung-hun
Ryu Seung-ryong
Han Hyo-joo
Music by Mowg
Kim Jun-seong
Cinematography Lee Tae-yoon
Edited by Nam Na-yeong
Distributed by CJ Entertainment
Release dates
  • September 13, 2012[1]
Running time
 131 minutes
Country South Korea
Language Korean
Budget ₩9.5 billion
Box office US$80,751,692[2]

Masquerade (Hangul: 광해: 왕이 된 남자; hanja: 光海: 王이 된 男子; RR: Gwanghae: Wang-i Doen Namja; lit. Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King) is a 2012 South Korean historical film starring Lee Byung-hun in dual roles as the bizarre King Gwanghae and the humble acrobat Ha-sun, who stands in for the monarch when he faces the threat of being poisoned.[3][4]

With 12.3 million tickets sold, it swept the 49th Grand Bell Awards, winning in 15 categories, including Best Film, Director, Screenplay and Actor.[5][6][7][8]

Background

Historically, Gwanghae, the 15th Joseon king from 1574-1641, attempted diplomacy through neutrality as China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) set their sights on the country. He also tried his hand at other reforms and reconstruction to try and make the nation prosperous, including an emphasis on the restoration of documents, but met with opposition and was later deposed and exiled to Jeju Island.[9] Since he was deposed in a coup by the Westerners faction, historians did not give him a temple name like Taejo or Sejong.[10]

The film is an interpretation of the missing 15 days in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty during Gwanghae's reign—designated by his 1616 journal entry, "One must not record that which he wishes to hide."[11]

Plot

The confusing and conspiratorial 15th ruler of Korea's [Joseon Dynasty] King Gwang-hae (Lee Byung-hun) orders his councilor, Heo Gyun (Ryu Seung-ryong), to find him a double in order to avoid the constant threat of assassination. Heo Gyun finds Ha-sun, a lowly acrobat and bawdy joker who looks remarkably like the king, and just as feared, Gwang-hae is poisoned. Heo Gyun proposes Ha-sun fill the role as the king until Gwang-hae recovers fully and grooms Ha-sun to look and act every bit the king. While assuming the role of the king at his first official appearance, Ha-sun begins to ponder the intricacies of the problems debated in his court. Being fundamentally more humanitarian than Gwang-hae, Ha-sun’s affection and appreciation of even the most minor servants slowly changes morale in the palace for the better. Over time he finds his voice and takes control of governing the country with real insight and fair judgments. Even Heo Gyun is moved by Ha-sun’s genuine concern for the people, and realizes he is an infinitely better ruler than Gwang-hae. However, his chief opposition, Park Chung-seo (Kim Myung-gon), notices the sudden shift in the king’s behavior and starts to ask questions. The queen (Han Hyo-joo) is also conflicted between the real king and the fake king’s secret.[12]

Cast

Production

Announced in early 2011 and initially titled I am the King of Joseon, the The Prince and the Pauper-inspired historical film was to be directed by Kang Woo-suk and star Jung Jae-young as Gwanghae/Ha-sun and Yoo Jun-sang as Heo Gyun,[28][29][30] but Kang left the project over differences of opinion with production firm CJ E&M.[31]

In November 2011, they were replaced by director Choo Chang-min and actor Lee Byung-hun in his first ever historical film.[32][33][34][35][36] A month later, Han Hyo-joo was cast as Lee's co-star.[37]

The film was shot at the Namyangju Studio Complex in Gyeonggi Province.[38][39][40]

Reception

Called by one review as one of the best South Korean costume dramas in years,[41] the film drew praise for being beautifully written and emotionally involving, as well as for its accomplished acting, sure-handed direction, ambitious scale and commercial appeal.[42] It became the second biggest hit film at the 2012 South Korean box office, attracting 8.2 million admissions in 25 days of release,[43][44][45][46] then 9,091,633 after 31 days.[47] On its 38th day, it became the 7th film in Korean cinema history to surpass the 10 million-milestone attendance.[48][49][50][51][52][53][54] At the end of its theatrical run it was listed as Korea's all-time third highest grossing film with 12,319,542 tickets sold nationwide (as of April 2015, it is currently sixth).[55]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2012
49th Grand Bell Awards
 Best Film Masquerade Won
Best Director Choo Chang-min Won
Best Actor Lee Byung-hun Won
Best Supporting Actor Ryu Seung-ryong Won
Best Screenplay Hwang Jo-yoon Won
Best Cinematography Lee Tae-yoon Won
Best Editing Nam Na-yeong Won
Best Art Direction Oh Heung-seok Won
Best Lighting Oh Seung-chul Won
Best Costume Design Kwon Yoo-jin, Im Seung-hee Won
Best Music Mowg, Kim Jun-seong Won
Best Production Im Sang-jin Won
Best Visual Effects Jung Jae-hoon Won
Best Sound Effects Lee Sang-joon Won
Popularity Award Lee Byung-hun Won
32nd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards
 Best Technical Achievement Oh Heung-seok Won
33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards
 Best Film Masquerade Nominated
Best Director Choo Chang-min Nominated
Best Actor Lee Byung-hun Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jang Gwang Nominated
Best Screenplay Hwang Jo-yoon Nominated
Best Cinematography Lee Tae-yoon Nominated
Best Art Direction Oh Heung-seok Won
Best Lighting Oh Seung-chul Nominated
Best Music Mowg, Kim Jun-seong Nominated
Technical Award Kwon Yoo-jin, Im Seung-hee
(costume design)		 Nominated
Nam Na-yeong
(editing)		 Nominated
13th Busan Film Critics Awards
 Best Actor Lee Byung-hun Won
2013
49th Baeksang Arts Awards
 Best Film Masquerade Won
Best Director Choo Chang-min Won
Best Actor Lee Byung-hun Nominated
22nd Buil Film Awards
 Best Supporting Actor Ryu Seung-ryong Won
Buil Readers' Jury Award Masquerade Won
7th Asia Pacific Screen Awards[56]
 Best Actor Lee Byung-hun Won

Theater adaptation

The film was adapted into a stage play which ran at Seoul's Dongsoong Art Center from February 23 to April 21, 2013. It was produced by Lee Byung-hun's agency BH Entertainment. Bae Soo-bin and musical theatre actor Kim Do-hyun alternated in the lead role of Gwanghae.[57] As part of the promotion for the play, Lee, Bae and Kim were featured in a photo spread in the inaugural issue of Grazia Korea, published on February 20, 2013.[58]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lee, Hye-ji (30 August 2012). "Lee Byung-hun's historical pic set to open in Korea and North America in same week". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  2. ↑ "Masquerade (2012)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  3. ↑ Kwaak, Je-yup (14 August 2012). "Prince-pauper tale gets election-year twist in Gwanghae". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  4. ↑ Oh, Mi-jung (4 September 2012). "Masquerade Turns Out to be More Comedic than Serious". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  5. ↑ "Gwanghae sweeps Korean Oscars". The Korea Times. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  6. ↑ Lee, Jin-ho (31 October 2012). "The Daejong Film Awards are Taken Over by Masquerade". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  7. ↑ "Masquerade Sweeps Daejong Film Awards". The Chosun Ilbo. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  8. ↑ Lee, Claire (30 October 2012). "Gwanghae sweeps Daejong Film Awards". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  9. ↑ Baek, Byung-yeul (11 October 2012). "Lee shines in dual roles in Masquerade". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  10. ↑ Hong, Lucia (13 August 2012). "Masquerade main stars Lee Byung-hun, Han Hyo-joo speak at presser". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  11. ↑ Aquino, Rowena (24 September 2012). "A Royal Performance by Lee Byung-hun: Review of Masquerade". Asia Pacific Arts. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  12. ↑ Kang, Byeong-jin (7 February 2012). "Korea's most anticipated films of 2012". Korea Cinema Today. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  13. ↑ "Lee Byung Hun experiences being a king in Gwanghae: The Man who became King". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  14. ↑ "Lee Byung-hun Talks About His Movies, Love Life". The Chosun Ilbo. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  15. ↑ Oh, Mi-jung (14 August 2012). "Lee Byung Hun Chose Masquerade to Let Out His Humor". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  16. ↑ "Lee Byun-hyun Showcases Comic Side in Gwang-hae, A Man Who Became King". KBS Global. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  17. ↑ "Actor Lee Byung Hun wins praise for his role in Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King film". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  18. ↑ Lee, Tae-ho (3 September 2012). "Lee Byung-hun says "I lost my six pack to perfectly portray the king"". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  19. ↑ Oh, Mi-jung (5 September 2012). "Lee Byung Hun Modestly Talks about How He Danced for ‘Masquerade’". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  20. ↑ Oh, Mi-jung (6 September 2012). "Lee Byung Hun Talks about Being a Global Star, Masquerade and Lee Min Jung". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  21. ↑ Oh, Mi-jung (23 September 2012). "Interview Part I: Lee Byung Hun Says Masquerade Boasts a Balanced Ensemble". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  22. ↑ Oh, Mi-jung (23 September 2012). "Interview Part II: Lee Byung Hun's Difficulties and Embarrassments in Filming Masquerade". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  23. ↑ Gelt, Jessica (29 September 2012). "South Korean movie star shines in L.A.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  24. ↑ Kim, Hyeon-min (5 October 2012). "I would be so happy to make them laugh". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  25. ↑ "When Actor Ryu Seung Ryong Was Compared to Lee Byung Hun, "If Only I was Born a Year Earlier..."". Korea Portal. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  26. ↑ Lee, Jin-ho (3 October 2012). "Interview: Han Hyo Joo Says Lee Byung Hun was the Best Actor She's Met". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  27. ↑ "Han Hyo Joo Knew About Lee Byung Hun's Relationship With Lee Min Jung?". Korea Portal. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  28. ↑ "정재영, 강우석 감독 진정한 페르소나...5번째 작품!". Osen. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  29. ↑ "강우석 감독, 첫 사극 ‘나는 조선의 왕이다’ 연출". The Dong-a Ilbo. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  30. ↑ "강우석·정재영·유준상, '광해'서 다시 뭉친다". Star News. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  31. ↑ Han, Yeo-wool (4 November 2011). "Lee Byung-hun mulling historical film role". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  32. ↑ Kim, Jessica (14 November 2011). "Lee Byung-hun historical pic role confirmed". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  33. ↑ Kim, Ji-yeon (14 November 2011). "Lee Byung Hun To Star in Historical Film". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  34. ↑ "Lee Byung-hun to star in The Prince and the Pauper remake". Korea JoongAng Daily. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  35. ↑ Noh, Jean (17 November 2011). "Lee Byung-hun to star in Choo Chang-min's Masquerade". Screen International. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  36. ↑ Lee, Claire (27 February 2012). "Lee Byung-hun to star as Joseon king in movie". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  37. ↑ Hong, Lucia (20 December 2011). "Han Hyo-joo to join Lee Byung-hun in historical film". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  38. ↑ "Namyangju Studio Complex". Dynamic Korea. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  39. ↑ Hong, Lucia (27 February 2012). "Lee Byung-hun's 1st historical film cranks in". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  40. ↑ Frater, Patrick (28 February 2012). "King of Joseon now shooting". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  41. ↑ Elley, Derek (18 October 2012). "Masquerade". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  42. ↑ Paquet, Darcy (21 September 2012). "Box office, September 1-15". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  43. ↑ Kim, Hyun-min (25 September 2012). "Box office pull of 2 hits". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  44. ↑ "Korean film Gwanghae hits local box office". The Korea Times. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  45. ↑ Lee, Tae-ho (2 October 2012). "Masquerade Continues to Steam Competition for 3rd Win". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  46. ↑ Lee, Hye-ji (8 October 2012). "Masquerade Rules Box Office After Scoring 8.2 mln Ticket Sales". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  47. ↑ Sunwoo, Carla (16 October 2012). "Gwanghae exceeds 9 million views". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  48. ↑ Lee, Rachel (21 October 2012). "Masquerade, 7th film to reach 10 million viewers". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  49. ↑ "Masquerade surpasses 10 million viewers". The Korea Herald. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  50. ↑ "Gwanghae sets industry record". Korea JoongAng Daily. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  51. ↑ "Masquerade Sells Over 10 Million Tickets at Box Office". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  52. ↑ Lee, Hye-ji (22 October 2012). "Masquerade Outnumbers 10 Mln, Scores 6th Win at Box Office". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  53. ↑ Kim, Hyun-min (23 October 2012). "Second Korean Film Breaks the 10 Million Mark This Year". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  54. ↑ Kim, Hyun-min (13 November 2012). "Hollywood Stars Out in Force for MASQUERADE". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  55. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (13 December 2012). "Masquerade Becomes Third Most Watched South Korean Film of All Time". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  56. ↑ "Korean Actor Lee Byung-Hun Accepts Prestigious Asia Pacific Screen Award". Asia Today. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  57. ↑ Lee, Hye-ji (26 September 2012). "Masquerade to be Adapted into Stage Play". Kstar10. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  58. ↑ An, So-hyoun (23 February 2013). "The Three Gwanghaes Lee Byung Hun, Bae Soo Bin and Kim Do Hyun Pose for Grazia". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2013-02-23.

External links

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