Tragic Love Set in Korea-Mongolia Some Hundreds Years Ago

Directed by Kim Young-joon. Starring Shin Hyun-joon and Kim Hee-sun. Released in 2000. A movie based on best-selling comic book series written by Kim Hye-rin.

Most of film shooting for the movie was done in China, and Hong Kong-style wire actions are eye-catching.

In Won Dynasty in spring of 1343, Jinha (Shin Hyun-joon) is a son of a Korean couple living in a shaggy hut in a remote village. Sulri (Kim Hee-sun), a daughter of a mighty Mongolian general, comes into his life and gives him a reason to live.

General Taru (Kim Hak-cheol) disapproves their love and separates them apart. Jinha learns how to use the legendary secret art of swordsmanship waiting for the day he meets Sulri again. Then, a nobleman from Han, Junkwang (Jung Jin-young), attracted by her beauty, takes Sulri away from Jinha.

Some ten years later, revengeful Jiha, now an assassin called Jaharang, is leading rebels against Won coalition. And a tragedy begins for Jinha himself, Sulri, Junkwang and Jinha`s own son Sung.

Seung-Hoon Cheon raphy@donga.com