Korean Historical Politics Drama 'The Face Reader'

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After this film, a famous line became popular in Korea. It’s the line, “Do I even have the face to become king?” It was a line by actor Lee Jung-jae, and I’d like to review the movie "The Face Reader," which is still being talked about today. 

1. The Plot 
A physiognomist who can see through a person’s face. One day, while living in seclusion in the mountains with his brother-in-law Paengheon and his son Jin-hyeong, he is invited by the gisaeng Yeonhong to go to Hanyang, the capital of Joseon, and soon after he becomes known as a famous physiognomist in Hanyang.  Eventually, he is chosen by the king’s right-hand man and meets Grand Prince Suyang, who is plotting rebellion against Joseon, and he seeks to change the fate of the dynasty. 

2. The Cast and Director 
The role of Naegyeong, the physiognomist, was played by Song Kang-ho, famous for the film Memories of Murder. Paengheon, the brother-in-law, was played by Jo Jung-suk, known for the role of Napdeuk. Jin-hyung, the son, was played by Lee Jong-suk. Han Myeong-hoe was played by Baek Yoon-sik. Grand Prince Suyang was played by Lee Jung-jae. The gisaeng Yeonhong was passionately portrayed by Kim Hye-soo, one of South Korea’s finest actresses. And director Han Jae-rim, famous for the film The King, took on the role of director. 

3. What to watch for 
This film is a fictional historical drama that blends fiction with real history, and I think it might be more enjoyable if you know the actual history of Korea. And since all of South Korea’s famous actors are fully assembled, watching their fiery acting showdown can also be a highlight of the viewing experience. In particular, the intense eye acting of actor Lee Jung-jae, who plays Grand Prince Suyang, and actor Baek Yoon-sik, who plays Kim Jong-seo, remains unforgettable even after watching the film. 

4. Personal Review 
After enjoying all of director Han Jae-rim’s films, I watched The Face Reader with high expectations, and as expected, it was very entertaining. First of all, the fact that some of South Korea’s most famous actors were acting together was intriguing, and especially when I heard that Lee Jung-jae, who plays Grand Prince Suyang, had an all-time great entrance scene, I watched closely the scene where Suyang first appears, and I could understand why people were so interested. While the passionate performances of actor Song Kang-ho and actress Kim Hye-soo were also great, I was most impressed by the acting of actor Lee Jung-jae and actor Baek Yoon-sik. Since physiognomy is very popular in Korea, I think anyone interested in this field might be able to enjoy the film twice as much and find it more entertaining. And since Mr. Lee Byung-woo, the finest music director, composed the film’s score, it would also be good to listen carefully to the sound effects throughout the film.



                                  

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