Pyongyang Nalpharam

Pyongyang Nalpharam
Chosŏn'gŭl 평양 날파람
Hancha 平壤 날파람
McCune–Reischauer P‘yŏngyang Nalp‘aram
Revised Romanization Pyongyang Nalparam
Directed by Phyo Kwang
Maeng Cheol-min
Written by Kim Jeong-seok
Jo Se-hyeok
Starring Ri Ryeong-hun
Kim Hye-gyeong
Ri Yun-su
Yu Hye-gyeong
Music by Seong Jong-cheol
Cinematography Shim Yeong-hak
Distributed by Korea Film Export & Import Corp.
Release dates
  • 2006 (2006)
Running time
 107 minutes
Country North Korea
Language Korean

Pyongyang Nalpharam (Chosŏn'gŭl: 평양 날파람) is a 2006 North Korean film directed by Phyo Kwang and Maeng Cheol-min. It is a martial arts film set during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea. One of only two North Korean films released in 2006, it received ticket sales of 6 million cinema-goers in North Korea. Critics describe the film as "routine" and "adequate."

Plot

The film is set in the early 20th century, during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea. Jeong Taek is a master of Pyongyang Nalpharam, a form of the ancient Taekkyeon martial art perfected on Mount Taeseong near Pyongyang. He returns home one day to find his father poisoned by Korean-born Japanese woman Mieko, who claims that the elder was responsible for the death of her own father. At first mistaking the woman for his childhood sweetheart, So Gyeon, Taek is forced into action when Japanese forces lay claim to the sacred texts containing the secrets of Pyongyang Nalpharam.[1]

Cast

Release

Pyongyang Nalpharam was released in August 2006,[2] and received a reported 6 million admissions at the North Korean box office.[1] It was one of only two North Korean films released in 2006—the other being The Schoolgirl's Diary—and both films were screened at that year's Pyongyang International Film Festival.[2][3]

Critical reception

Derek Elley of Variety described Pyongyang Nalpharam as "a routine period actioner... with flashes of interest for Asiaphile auds", reminiscent of 1970s Hong Kong "chopsocky" films. He regarded the action choreography as being "adequate", and considered only a single sequence during a "masked entertainment" to have any "real verve".[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Elley, Derek. Pyongyang Nalpharam Review. Variety, 27 September 2006. Retrieved on 27 October 2008.
  2. 1 2 Elley, Derek. "Yanks not invited: North Korean fest bars H'wood pix". Variety, 25 September 2006. Retrieved on 27 October 2008.
  3. ↑ Elley, Derek. "Pyongyang pleases, teases and perplexes". Variety, 29 September 2008. Retrieved on 27 October 2008. (Dead link)
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