Kim Tae Ri as always at her superb best
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024)A stunning production, which I gather did not garner much enthusiasm as the time it was released. Which is a pity because, for someone like me who knew nothing about pansori storytelling or gukgeuk theatre, it was a real eye-opener – the theatrical productions and auditions from this Korean arts tradition were a joy to watch. Whether the writing between the lines is Sapphic or not.
The cast, with Kim Tae-Ri in the lead, were also stellar. The vocal acrobatics of all actor/singers (whether voiced-over or not I do not know, but it didn’t seem to matter in any case, so why am I raising the issue…) were staggering in stark contrast to the simple folk tales and heroic events enacted in the theatre productions.
Kim Tae Ri, as ever, stood head and shoulders above everyone for the depth, intelligence and sensitivity of her acting, whether as a young woman fighting multiple challenges in order to become a gukgeuk actor, or as that actor on stage. Her vocal modulation technique in particular was remarkable. I never tire of watching her in the ambitious parts she always manages to choose.
My only quibble would be the tendency at times towards lengthy melodramatic moments, especially between members of the gukgeuk troupe. But that may be my 21st century European perspective which could arguably be viewed as inappropriate for a series set in Korea in the 1950s (excellent set and costumes btw). However, perhaps the script could nonetheless have taken the contemporary sensitivities of the target viewership into account?
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so disappointing
As a huge fan of ZLH – I'd happily watch him reading the back of a packet of cornflakes for an hour or two – but even his presence and energetic attempt at providing this drama with a degree of pizzazz will not make me want to watch further than the first three episodes. I'm sorry, but the ridiculous pace, the clichéd filming, the poverty of character development meant that this drama offers nothing for this viewer to latch on to. I admit to not having watched a 'Republican' drama before, and reading some of the reviews below, I gather it is a genre that has its own specificities, tropes etc. Even so, the drama's inability to credit viewers with a brain, a critical eye, and dramatic sensibility means, for me at any rate, that this drama is a flop. I truly wish I could say otherwise. This is one of the very few dramas that have not wanted to see through to the end before I made up my mind.Was this review helpful to you?
