Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016) poster
7.9
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.9/10 from 561 users
# of Watchers: 1,900
Reviews: 3 users
Ranked #3118
Popularity #6110
Watchers 561

Dong Ju, while studying literature in Japan, was charged and detained for having participated in the Korean Independence Movement. Known to have created hundreds of poems during his time in jail where he spent the last two years of his life, Dong Ju passed away at the young age of 27. Although it has not been proven, some believe he died due to medical experiments that were performed on his living body. ~~ Based on the life and work of Korea’s renowned poet, Yun Dong Ju. Edit Translation

  • English
  • Polski
  • Español
  • Türkçe
  • Country: South Korea
  • Type: Movie
  • Release Date: Feb 17, 2016
  • Duration: 1 hr. 50 min.
  • Score: 7.9 (scored by 561 users)
  • Ranked: #3118
  • Popularity: #6110
  • Content Rating: 13+ - Teens 13 or older

Where to Watch Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet

Prime Video
Purchase (sub)

Cast & Credits

Photos

Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016) photo
Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016) photo
Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016) photo
Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016) photo
Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016) photo
Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016) photo

Reviews

Completed
The Butterfly
6 people found this review helpful
May 4, 2021
Completed 3
Overall 8.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 3.5

Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet is an eloquent story woven around the poet's own insightful words. Shot in black and white, the monochrome film beautifully fits the quiet, intense mood of the short lives of these two young men.

I will leave the historical aspect of this film to those who have a personal stake in it or are more well versed in it than I am.

This film is as much about Yun Dong Ju's cousin and revolutionary, Song Mong Gyu, as it is the poet. Their lives are intertwined, two different ideals in how to resist during a time of hated occupation. One willing to use a gun, the other a pen though at times those lines blur. Their friendship though challenged never waivers.

The story begins and ends with the young men in prison. The present takes place during Yun's interrogation by the Japanese. As Yun is questioned, the past is revealed to show the steps they took to end up in prison. Quoting Yun's poetry to the corresponding events paints the conflicted feelings he had over his role during the dark times and his attempt to find hope in the moment. The tripod of present, past and poetry is perfectly balanced.

Kang Ha Neul gives a restrained and poignant performance as Yun's younger self and later as the tortured prisoner knowing death is imminent, reflecting on his actions and inactions. All the performances are good but his stood out as the titular character.

Dong Ju is an elegantly filmed story of an inelegant and agonizing time told through the courage, defiance and beauty of poetry and a poet.

Prelude

Wishing not to have
so much as a speck of shame

toward heaven until the day I die,
I suffered, even when the wind stirred the leaves.

With my heart singing to the stars,
I shall love all things that are dying.

And I must walk the road
that has been given to me.

Tonight, again, the stars are
brushed by the wind.

-Yun Dong Ju

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Tate Arson
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 29, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

"하늘과 바람과 별과 시"

The movie has a feel of old black and white pictures coming to life. The camera is a careful observer and doesn't make unnecessary movements. It's a lot like a theater play that relies mostly on the actors performances, and those are amazing!

🔸️I feel like it's the right way to approach such complicated topic as Japanese rule and tragic life stories of people who lived in another century. We have to keep a respectful distance to remember that there is no going back, and therefore the history lessons have to be learned. This distance also makes the movie very lyrical, with poetry recited over the scenes, expressing Dong Joo's thoughts and feelings and creating the flow.

It was a bit hard to understand the potential goals and motivations of the characters, but now poetry makes sense to me.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?

Recommendations

The Book of Fish
The Last Princess
The King's Letters
The Great Passage
The Sound of a Flower
Man of Will

Recent Discussions

Be the first to create a discussion for Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet

Details

  • Movie: Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet
  • Country: South Korea
  • Release Date: Feb 17, 2016
  • Duration: 1 hr. 50 min.
  • Content Rating: 13+ - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

  • Score: 7.9 (scored by 561 users)
  • Ranked: #3118
  • Popularity: #6110
  • Watchers: 1,900

Top Contributors

21 edits
18 edits
13 edits
12 edits

News & Articles

Popular Lists

Related lists from users
Film (Serious)
204 titles 87 loves
KMovie Based On True Story
150 titles 80 loves 10
Korean Movies
214 titles 75 loves

Recently Watched By