Uprising (2024)

A remarkable Korean production, this time with a historical setting, set during the Japanese invasion attempt.

It presents the story of ‘Jong Ryeo’, the son of a high status warrior family in ‘Joseon’ and his servant or slave ‘Cheon Yeong’ who grew up together during the Japanese invasion and end up meeting after many years as adversaries.

The film is highly entertaining, with an impeccable setting. One of the highlights is its focus on the social conflict arising from the rigid hierarchical structure of the Joseon dynasty.

This treatment is unusual, as in most depictions the Joseon dynasty has been idealised. Here, on the other hand, it is reflected in a more crude and realistic manner.

From a historical point of view, I have not detected any major errors beyond the licences that are typical of fiction.

However, it is important to highlight once again the excellent work in the recreation of the historical context and the production design, which manages to immerse the viewer in the period in a convincing way.

The main drawback I find is that the script assumes that the viewer is familiar with Korean history, in particular the Imjin War (1592-1598).

In the film, this conflict is dealt with in a superficial way, which may confuse those who have no prior knowledge of the subject.

For a Korean audience this is not a problem, but an average viewer from another country might feel disoriented at certain points.

Fortunately, this confusion can be resolved with a quick Google search.

Superb direction, sublime scenes, make for a story that is real but not very new, a small work of art of Korean cinema.

I really appreciate it when directors leave their stamp and their style even at the risk of not reaching the ‘general public’, leaving the commercial rehash to which we have been subjected for years, especially by Hollywood.

Here you can see the director's style, his intention and his self-confidence, giving it that particular touch that makes the film something a little bit more special and worth seeing.

I recommend this film to anyone who wants to enjoy a fascinating story that also allows you to learn about a lesser-known part of Korean history.

However, viewers who are more squeamish about scenes of violence, especially those involving the loss of limbs, may have to cover their eyes on more than one occasion.