Hong Kil-dong
Director: Kim Kil-in
Year: 1986
Rating: 6.0
Country: North Korea
Aka - The Avenger
with a Flute
It isn't often that you will come across
a North Korean martial arts film, but here is one of the few. And it is pretty
good. It is up on YouTube for anyone interested. By most accounts the South
Korean director Shin Sang-ok was behind the film in some capacity before
he was able to escape from North Korea in this same year. Eight years after
being kidnapped and forced to direct films. Shin clearly brings with him
a knowledge of Hong Kong martial arts film and applies it here. Admittedly,
if I hadn't seen the date of production I would have thought this was made
in in the late 1960s. The action choreography and wuxia elements reflect
that time period with the Shaws - but by 1986 action choreography had changed
considerably. But considering that North Korea had little experience with
this sort of film, it is quite good and the lead actor Ri Yong-ho definitely
has some skills. Perhaps too much florid melodrama in the 108-running time
but once they get to the Ninjas, it becomes quite cool.
Hong Kil-dong is the son of a concubine/maid
to Lord Hong, one of the two main advisors to the King. His wife is not pleased
to have such a low-class concubine around and hires men to kill her and her
son on the road. An elderly man comes to their rescue with his paralysis
touch and he takes both of them to his mountainous home. The photography
of the mountains is wonderful and is shot in crisp colors. Over the next
fifteen or so years, the old man trains Hong in all sorts of martial art
skills - as well as playing the flute. Hong is able to save the daughter
of the Prime Minister from a band of bandits and nurse her back to health.
They fall in love. But once he takes her back home, her father refuses to
let them marry because of his lowly status. There isn't much propaganda in
this - in fact in some ways quite the opposite - but Hong is a class rebel.
After being rejected, he leaves and takes
up being a Robin Hood type - dealing with corrupt officials with a good beating
- but not before playing the flute. His calling card. He has also upgraded
his wardrobe to a purple scarf and boots. To this point there wasn't that
much action, but then the Japanese ninjas show up, plundering and kidnapping
women to take back. The woman he loves is one of them. So, he naturally has
to kill them all - suddenly very bloody and Hong Kong style. The very
ending is a bit of a surprise as class barriers cannot be broken down - not
even when you save the Kingdom.
