The Last Princess (2016)

Reno September 8, 2017

★ 7/10

**The longest 10 minutes of the princess' life!** The story that sets in the 1961, but most of the film was a flashback narration that takes us to the 30 years earlier, in the 30s. This is a biographical film of the last Korean princess to be crowned. Though the film clearly briefs her power struggle over the foreign power. The entire tale was told from her perspective as she saw everything. So, it was real, but historical facts were compromised in places with additional characters or events that more cinematised. That's what the film declared at the opening. To be honest, any biopic would be the same. You can't expect a perfect, a flawless portrayal of a person or the event. Since films are just a recreation to spread the truth, whether they are good, bad or nothing important. There are lots of Japanese dialogue as the story required it. I have seen other Korean historical films, …

CinemaSerf October 26, 2025

★ 7/10

Bertolucci’s acclaimed “Last Emperor” (1987) gave us an indication of the Japanese colonial aspirations in Manchukuo, but there aren’t so many features that tell of their similar dismantling of the Korean state. Ruled by the Joseon dynasty, their last emperor had declined to accept the Japanese annexation of his kingdom and so something toxic was added to his vermillion cordial. This left his daughter Deok-hye (Son Ye-jin) at the mercy of the manipulative counsellors who had her shipped to Japan for “integration” into the Japanese Imperial family. Used occasionally to assist their puppet-mastery, she is soon disgusted by the way her country folk are being used and abused by their new government, so determines to resist and to find some way to get back home. With the eventual defeat of Japan, her hopes of returning home don’t look so much better as the new Korean republic do…