About This Film
During the 19th year of King Gwangmu’s reign, Empress Myeongseong a.k.a Queen Min, conspired with her kinsman Min Gyeom-ho and dethroned Prince Regent Daewongun, the ruling agent. In the nine years that followed, she killed all his subjects and took the throne, additionally abolishing all the policies and reforms set up by Daewongun, that aimed at the people’s benefit. Instead, the palace and royal court indulged in a factional feud, extravagance and orgies, while people’s lives became more miserable as the government became more corrupt. There emerged a group of youths, children of the royal subjects executed by Min Gyeom-ho who were determined to set the country right. They secretly formed a rebellion group under a scholar named Lee Hwal-min, who was an ally of Daewongun. Hwalminsuk academy was the hub of their activities.
Shin Sang-ok, in yet another effort that loans heavily from similar Hollywood productions and has the distinct purpose to please the audience, used the original novel by Kim Dong-in to come up with an amalgam including historic (melo)drama, romance, action and thriller, in a rather confusing but also entertaining package.
Synopsis
As the film begins, Min Gyeom-ho, whose father was killed by Daewongun, attempts to assassinate him but fails after the interference of Jae-yong, a supporter of the Prince Regent. Lee In-hwa, who is posing as a young boy in the Academy Prince Regent inhabits, (although a number of people seem to know the fact) is to be married to Gyeom-ho, and proceeds on freeing him. Eventually, the three of them become allies and fight against Min Gyeom-ho and his peers, although their efforts are, evidently, bound to fail.
