Pyongyang Nalpharam

Pyongyang Nalpharam (Korean: 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."

Pyongyang Nalpharam
DVD cover
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
平壤 날파람
Revised RomanizationPyongyang Nalparam
McCune–ReischauerP‘yŏngyang Nalp‘aram
Directed byPhyo Kwang
Maeng Cheol-min
Written byKim Jeong-seok
Jo Se-hyeok
StarringRi Ryeong-hun
Kim Hye-gyeong
Ri Yun-su
Yu Hye-gyeong
CinematographyShim Yeong-hak
Edited byKim Gye-hyeong
Music bySeong Jong-cheol
Distributed byKorea Film Export & Import Corp.
Release date
  • 2006 (2006)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryNorth Korea
LanguageKorean

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
  • Ri Ryeong-hun ... Jeong Taek
  • Kim Hye-gyeong ... So Gyeon
  • Ri Yun-su
  • Yu Hye-gyeong ... Mieko
  • Kim Gweong-yeol
  • Nam Ryeong-woo
  • Kim Cheon-yeol
  • Choi Yeong-chun
  • Ri Seong-gang

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. Elley, Derek. Pyongyang Nalpharam Review. Variety, 27 September 2006. Retrieved on 27 October 2008.
  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" Archived 2008-11-05 at the Wayback Machine. Variety, 29 September 2008. Retrieved on 27 October 2008. (Dead link)
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