RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Chi-hwa-seon
Chi-hwa-seon

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Chi-hwa-seon (2002)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
82 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:39

Fresh:32

Rotten:7

Average Rating:7.1/10

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Theatrical Release:Feb 14, 2003 Limited

Synopsis: IM Kwon-taek's ninety-fifth film tells the story of renowned nineteenth-century painter JANG Seung-up (Choi Min-Sik), an artist whose revolutionary work - and persona - has forever changed the face... IM Kwon-taek's ninety-fifth film tells the story of renowned nineteenth-century painter JANG Seung-up (Choi Min-Sik), an artist whose revolutionary work - and persona - has forever changed the face of Korean art.

CHIHWASEON (PAINTED FIRE) begins in the 1850s, when KIM Byung-moon (AHN Sung-ki) saves the young JANG Seung-up from being beaten by a group of drifters. In return, JANG draws him a picture, and as Kim carefully examines the child's rough drawing, he notices the extraordinary potential of the young boy. Years later, KIM Byung-moon becomes JANG Seung-up's mentor and encourages him to pursue the life of an artist. KIM eventually gives JANG the pen name of Oh-won.

Later on his life, JANG Seung-up meets Mae-hyang, a daughter of a Yangban (social elite) who attracts him deeply. Although their passion is strong, they are eventually forced to separate when she runs away from catholic persecution.

JANG Seung-up eventually leaves his house and wanders about in pursuit of "true art," soon realizing that it is through pleasure that he can produce his greatest works. Oh-won's life is thus marked by the paradox of his inspiration derived by addiction to alcohol and convoluted love affairs with women.

As JANG continues to search for artistic transcendence, he stretches the limits of traditional Korean art, rapidly becoming a worldwide artistic reference - and one of Korea's national legends. -- © Kino International [More]

Starring: Min-sik Choi, Sung-Kee Ahn, Ho-jeong Yu, Yeo-jin Kim

Starring: Min-sik Choi, Sung-Kee Ahn, Ho-jeong Yu, Yeo-jin Kim, Ye-jin Son

Director: Kwon-Taek Im

Director: Kwon-Taek Im
Producer: Tae-Won Lee
Composer: Young-dong Kim
Studio: Kino International

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Feb 3, 2004

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Chi-hwa-seon

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

In spite of these few moments of wonder, and even the dense, moving thematic content, the film ultimately doesn't leave a lasting taste.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
05/15/07
Par Parekh
Par Parekh
Film Journal International

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
11/15/04
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

[A]n elegant, painterly film...

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
08/08/04
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

The sturdy and goateed Choi Min-sik gives an extraordinary performance as the mercurial Ohwon whose moods fluctuate from sadness to rage, anguish, and depression.

Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | comment Comment
06/25/04
Judith Egerton
Judith Egerton
Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

For all its beauty and artistic ambition, the film remained stubbornly remote and soulless to me.

Full Review Source: Fresno Bee | comment Comment
01/09/04
Donald Munro
Donald Munro
Fresno Bee
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
07/08/03
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This Korean drama is a credible portrait of its main character, the revered 19th-century artist Oh Mon Jang Seung-up, and it looks beautiful enough to be a work of art itself.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
06/20/03
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Director Im Kwon-Taek steeps this film with reverence for Korean lore and history.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
06/20/03
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

It is quietly observant, with a detached eye for the telling moment, and the visual compositions are often exquisite.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
06/20/03
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

[Chihwaseon] rushes through the life of its subject in nimble leaps and bounds, concentrating on the livelier and more spectacular parts and avoiding the dull historical and biographical stretches.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
06/06/03
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The problem is, painting isn't a spectator sport, as the interminable scenes of Jang at work continually confirm.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
06/06/03
Neil Smith
Neil Smith
BBC

Another masterpiece from one of the world's more neglected great directors, a master artist who here reveals the soul of another.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
06/05/03
Michael Wilmington
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A fascinating, consummately crafted and ultimately moving study of a man who conforms surprisingly closely to western archetypes of the artist as rebel and hedonist.

Full Review Source: Sight and Sound | comment Comment
06/03/03
Geoffrey Macnab
Geoffrey Macnab
Sight and Sound

It's one of the best films of an artist's life you'll ever see.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
05/30/03
Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy
Oregonian

The movie's attention to anthropological and historical detail means things are slow to come alive. But once they do, the nature of Jang's psychic torture is palpable and unmistakable.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
05/16/03
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A vividly entertaining portrait.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
05/16/03
Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film's sexy romanticism and its tragic sense of Korean history will thrill even those who have never set foot in an art gallery.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Ella Taylor
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
15% 15% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
68% 68% Funny People
25% 25% Four Christmases
45% 45% Shorts

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Total Recall

Total Recall

John Travolta's top reviewed movies

Disney Countdown

Disney Countdown

Look back on Disney's best animated movies!

RT's Gift Guide

RT's Gift Guide

Give the best movies, gear, and more!

Ninja Assassin

Ninja Assassin

Learn to train like a ninja in this clip!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
4
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
10
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
10
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
116
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
176
  • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
130
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Twilight's New Moon Dazzle?
97
  • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
75
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
72
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
58
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
33
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
32
  • WB offers DVD to Blu-ray Trade-In Program
19
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Angels & Demons, Funny People, and Superman
18
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
13
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
9
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
6
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
20
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Chi-hwa-seon at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Chi-hwa-seon at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.

New Moon Portraits
New Moon Portraits External Link

TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.

Unsexiest Men Alive
Unsexiest Men Alive External Link

Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.