"A frozen flower" is a story about a rather unique love triangle, taking place at the inner court of the Goreyo period in today's Korean peninsula. When I first watched the film I felt numb for days, so I re-watched it again and again because there is something addictive about this film. Maybe it is the perfect pace, the amazing dialogues, the beautiful setting, maybe it is the great acting or even the emotional love scenes and the mesmerizing fight scenes. Yu Ha creates an engaging story about love, loyalty, power, and betrayal, the script is so well written that it is like a guide to script writing. And although the story is taking place during a power struggle over the throne and palace intrigues we are all focused on the inner conflicts of the heroes and their struggle to protect what they hold dear. How does Yu Ha accomplish it?
Every scene is a key point that leads to the final resolution of the story, if any of them( except the two last) would be taken out, the story wouldn't make sense. They follow the rule of scene structure, this way in every scene we have an Argument, a seduction, or negotiation, that develops the plot and makes it character driven. The scenes not only build the plot but work as foreshadowing for the next, a good example is the execution of the officials that plotted against the king since it reveals for the first time the limits of the king's benevolence, and what will come if the king discovers the betrayal of his lover.
The dialogues are equally articulate, they deepen the understanding of the characters, and often have double meanings creating layers on the perception of what is said. A very good example is the first duel of the King with Hong Rim, where the king is reacting to what is he is presented as truth but his words reveal that he acknowledges what might have truly happened. Or the metaphor with the horse and the next scene with the queen.
Even the music is used symbolically, as the song of the king, which is declaring the begging of an intimate relationship between a man and a woman, just after Hong Rim gave in to his feelings and started an affair with the queen. Or the farewell song at the picnic, which foreshadows that the queen will be left by her beloved at the end. Or when Hong Rim tries to get the Queen from the palace, the song describes his emotional state.
One of my favorite scenes is where the King talks about his dream. Why this dream is presented at this point? Because exactly at this point is so futile. The King dreams of himself hunting happily at the Liaoning plains with Hong Rim, exactly in the previous scene it is demonstrated that Hong Rim has changed and his mind isn't focused on the king anymore, at this point the perfect relationship exists only in the king's imagination. The hunting takes place at the Liaoning plains also for a reason, this area will be never possessed by the Goreyo, just like Hong Rim's heart won't be ever again possessed only by the king. It shows the difference in the perception of the reality, since at the end of the scene Hong Rim declares that he wishes to leave as soon as possible. That makes this scene so meaningful.
I guess this beautiful scene was shot eventually and Yu Ha just didn't want to waste it and decided to use it at the end. That was a big mistake because at this point the scene is not adding anything to the story and rather creates a cringe after the whole experience of the film. I have the same opinion about the flashback scene after the final fight, since it is not reviling anything new, rather repeating already given information. If Yu Ha hadn't added these scenes at the end, the film would be perfect and not almost perfect. If the movie had ended at the last fight scene it would be truly epic. I don't understand why he is doing it. So if you stop watching the film after this scene you will get the full experience anyway.
I have a special love for the last fight scene. It is so intense as if they want to destroy the whole world, the past, and the future, it creates the perfect conclusion for the story. It is the second time that we see Hong Rim speaking his true feelings not only to the king but to himself as well and they end their unfortunate fate most believably and appropriately.
Let's not forget that the film shows just an interpretation of an existed story and romanticizes it. I like how Yu Ha pays attention to the inner conflict of Hong Rim showcasing an example on how character development is done. He follows all the steps Hong Rim had to take from the absolute devotion to the king to the disappointment and hate, that was enough to kill him, even if that was be the last thing he did.
In the end, it is a story that reveals the many faces of love, devotion, and betrayal. The story is bound by its context and would be impossible to happen under different circumstances, and that makes this film so beautiful.
Every scene is a key point that leads to the final resolution of the story, if any of them( except the two last) would be taken out, the story wouldn't make sense. They follow the rule of scene structure, this way in every scene we have an Argument, a seduction, or negotiation, that develops the plot and makes it character driven. The scenes not only build the plot but work as foreshadowing for the next, a good example is the execution of the officials that plotted against the king since it reveals for the first time the limits of the king's benevolence, and what will come if the king discovers the betrayal of his lover.
The dialogues are equally articulate, they deepen the understanding of the characters, and often have double meanings creating layers on the perception of what is said. A very good example is the first duel of the King with Hong Rim, where the king is reacting to what is he is presented as truth but his words reveal that he acknowledges what might have truly happened. Or the metaphor with the horse and the next scene with the queen.
Even the music is used symbolically, as the song of the king, which is declaring the begging of an intimate relationship between a man and a woman, just after Hong Rim gave in to his feelings and started an affair with the queen. Or the farewell song at the picnic, which foreshadows that the queen will be left by her beloved at the end. Or when Hong Rim tries to get the Queen from the palace, the song describes his emotional state.
One of my favorite scenes is where the King talks about his dream. Why this dream is presented at this point? Because exactly at this point is so futile. The King dreams of himself hunting happily at the Liaoning plains with Hong Rim, exactly in the previous scene it is demonstrated that Hong Rim has changed and his mind isn't focused on the king anymore, at this point the perfect relationship exists only in the king's imagination. The hunting takes place at the Liaoning plains also for a reason, this area will be never possessed by the Goreyo, just like Hong Rim's heart won't be ever again possessed only by the king. It shows the difference in the perception of the reality, since at the end of the scene Hong Rim declares that he wishes to leave as soon as possible. That makes this scene so meaningful.
I guess this beautiful scene was shot eventually and Yu Ha just didn't want to waste it and decided to use it at the end. That was a big mistake because at this point the scene is not adding anything to the story and rather creates a cringe after the whole experience of the film. I have the same opinion about the flashback scene after the final fight, since it is not reviling anything new, rather repeating already given information. If Yu Ha hadn't added these scenes at the end, the film would be perfect and not almost perfect. If the movie had ended at the last fight scene it would be truly epic. I don't understand why he is doing it. So if you stop watching the film after this scene you will get the full experience anyway.
I have a special love for the last fight scene. It is so intense as if they want to destroy the whole world, the past, and the future, it creates the perfect conclusion for the story. It is the second time that we see Hong Rim speaking his true feelings not only to the king but to himself as well and they end their unfortunate fate most believably and appropriately.
Let's not forget that the film shows just an interpretation of an existed story and romanticizes it. I like how Yu Ha pays attention to the inner conflict of Hong Rim showcasing an example on how character development is done. He follows all the steps Hong Rim had to take from the absolute devotion to the king to the disappointment and hate, that was enough to kill him, even if that was be the last thing he did.
In the end, it is a story that reveals the many faces of love, devotion, and betrayal. The story is bound by its context and would be impossible to happen under different circumstances, and that makes this film so beautiful.