Directed by Choo Chang-min and written by Hwang Jo-yoon

Rating: ★★★★★

Called by many as one of the best South Korean costume dramas in years, this production has been praised for its beautiful writing, emotional depth, and accomplished acting. With sure-handed direction, it goes straight to your heart and warms it. It showcases the Korean historical genre at its best, featuring fantastic performances by the lead actors. I know I’m always biased when talking about my beloved Mr. Sunshine, but Lee Byung-hun star truly shines—sorry for the redundancy, but there’s no other way to put it.

On a personal note, this might be one of his most superb pieces, which is hard to assert because I’ve never seen a bad performance from him. The dual character aspect is particularly astonishing. Even in a less masterful production, he would still shine. Ryu Seung-ryong also stands out; honestly, he’s a South Korean actor who deserves to be highlighted here on my blog. The recently made series “Mr. Queen” seems to have borrowed a thing or two from this film, as both share excellent comedic timing. I also love how the serious tone and message of the movie are conveyed with such precision.

Image courtesy of CJ Entertainment