Part of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s mission is to foster greater understanding through world cinema. This year 72 Foreign Language films were submitted for Golden Globes consideration. Here is an overview of one of them.

The Throne is a well crafted, artistically superb and powerfully acted period drama directed by Lee Joon-ik (King and the Clown). Based on historical facts, it’s a thought provoking, multi-layered piece that weaves a rich tapestry of emotion and intrigue, The Throne was selected as the Opening Night film at the Hawaiian Film Festival (November 12-22) and is the Foreign Language Oscar entry from South Korea.

The Throne is a film that depicts the story behind a notorious historical event known as the “tragedy of 1762” which befell the Joseon Dynasty's royal family. In that year, when King Youngjo (Song Kang-ho who was recently invited to the Academy as a new member) of the Joseon Dynasty had ruled for 35 years, Crown Prince Sado (Yoo A-in) is accused of plotting treason with his biological mother Consort Yi. Youngjo falls into a dilemma since punishing his own son as a traitor that would mean that he would become the father of a traitor threatening his throne. The King thus develops a love-hate relationship with his son Sado, the rightful heir, next in line to become the future king.

In the end Youngjo's hatred overcame love, the King ordered Sado to be locked up in a wooden rice chest without food and water in which the royal heir died after eight days. The movie follows the most tragic and iconic eight days in the history of Joseon Dynasty disclosing what forced a father to kill his own son. The director intimately delves into the conflict between father and son expressing the complex and emotional human story focusing on the psyche and feeling among the main characters. It feels almost like a Shakespearean drama. And by focusing on the family drama behind the historical event he brings the period to life and finds a present context for the tragic story.

The movie ends with King Jungjo, who is the son of Sado, dancing a fan-dance trying to bring about Youngjo and Sado's reconciliation and to appease their spirits. And the conflict ends with reconciliation with the past.

HJ Park