Sang-eui-won

This movie is tragic and heart-wrenching, if you let it be.

I beautiful and lush period film about the rivalry between two tailors which is impressive! This is not typically a film I'd be interested but it stars Don Lee in a supporting role so I had to see it (he is quite funny in the film). The film, overall, was better than I was expecting and this film was a cultural film of class and love for these characters and anyone who enjoys Downton Abby will enjoy this film. The cinematography is amazing and there isn't a weak performance among the ensemble cast and the film is quite funny as well. If you're a Don Lee fan (like myself) then you'll love the energy he brings to the film.

Great effort with the costumes and cinematography. It's a visual feast of fabrics. I tuned in for Park Shin Hye and she looks lovely but doesn't get a lot of chance to act. Go Soo is charismatic as the rebel tailor. What isn't good is the jealousy story and tragic end is so predictable. Here a twist would have been nice. Depressing ending.

The Royal Tailor, or Sang-eui-won in korean. When the new king takes the throne, the queen needs a new robe. The royal tailor says he cannot do this by the deadline. But a younger, more handsome tailor makes new clothes quickly, and easily. But he does not follow the traditions for royal gowns. The younger man is now in big demand, and is in the queen's favor. So the royal tailor plots a scheme to frame the young upstart. Some great visuals of colors, fashion. At the beginning, we see lots of elegant, flowing white uniforms. As the movie progresses, the younger tailor introduces fancy collars, colors, designs that were never allowed before. Discussions of power. Tradition. Discipline. The head tailor will have his revenge! Not so different from raise the red lantern, from 1991. Jealousy and competition between the king's wives. Directed by won-suk lee. Showing on kanopy streaming and several others.

All of the leads are wonderful actors beloved in South Korea and with a strong supporting cast. The costumes, of course, are breathtaking and become more so with each of Kong-Jin's creations born of dreams and gentle love, especially for the queen. But for a bit of slow pacing and some continuity breaks, the film is perfect. It is also wrenching and heartbreaking as it moves from a story about making beautiful clothes to a parable of jealousy and karma. Strongly recommended.