The Throne (2015) (DVD) (Taiwan Version) DVD Region 3

Set in 1762 in the Joseon period, the film initially finds King Yeongjo (Song Kang-ho) immensely proud of his son, the 27-year-old Prince Sado (Yoo Ah-in), praising him for his intelligence and skills as a statesman. Unfortunately, their relationship slowly but surely sours, the King growing upset with Sado's lack of commitment to the strict Confucian ideals and rules which underpin the country's governance, the prince being more interested in martial arts, poetry and painting. The King's increasingly harsh treatment of Sado only worsens matters, pushing him to rebel, and he locks up his son in a rice box without food or water as punishment.

As a period drama, The Throne certainly has a fascinating premise and historical backdrop, the sad tale of Prince Sado having been much debated over the years as to the nature of his character. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the humanistic nature of his body of work, the film sees Lee Joon-ik offering a sympathetic take on the story and his players, painting a tragic picture of a father and son whose lives and actions are deeply constrained by the society and time in which they live. Lee makes the most of this, and with the King's mental health deteriorating throughout, there's a real tension to their interactions, and an ominous sense of impending doom as things escalate, making the film dramatic and gripping. With lots of complex politics and conspiracies also thrown into the mix, there's a great deal going on, and Lee again shows his skill as a storyteller, successfully nailing an effective balance between narrative and character depth.

The film is boosted by some superb acting, both Song Kang-ho and Yoo Ah-in on top form in the all-important lead roles. Well-deserving of the many accolades and nominations the two won for their performances, including Yoo claiming his first Best Actor gong at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, the actors are entirely believable as father and son, giving the film a powerful emotional punch as it descends into misery. Crucially, Lee finds fault and redeeming features in each of them, and the scenes between the two are dramatic and moving, their actions towards each other being fraught and loaded with meaning. Though the film is dominated by Song and Yoo, the supporting cast are similarly excellent, veteran Kim Hae-suk (The Thieves) having won Best Supporting Actress at the Daejong Awards, and Jeon Hye-jin (Chronicle of a Blood Merchant) having won Best Supporting Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for their sterling work.

Where the film does fall down somewhat, is in its structure, the story playing out to a large extent through flashbacks as the King and the prince reflect upon the various stages in their relationship, from his childhood through to the present day. While this does work to help get to the bottom of the reasons behind its shocking decline, these do become a bit repetitive, and in places feel inserted only for the tugging of heartstrings – predictably, the film does take a dive into melodrama during its overlong final act, something which may lose some viewers. The flashbacks and their regularity also give the film a rather rigid and dry structure, giving it the air of a theatrical play at times, and while this perhaps reflects the society which imprisons the characters, it also makes the two-hour running time drag, not least since the ending is never in any doubt, even for audiences not aware of the historical facts.

To be fair, this doesn't detract too much from the film's overall effectiveness, though it does prevent The Throne from being truly great. Still, bolstered by some handsome production values as well as its powerhouse lead performances, the film is another fine period drama from Lee Joon-ik, who by now has surely earned recognition as the best Korean director working in the form.

by James Mudge - EasternKicks.com