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The Fortress
The Fortress
남한산성
2017 ·140 min ·South Korea · 12+
6.8
IMDb 6.8 КП 6.3 RT 63%
War, Drama, History, Action
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Trailers The Fortress
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Ancient Korea, 17th century. The powerful Khan of the Jurchen tribe of Manchuria, who fights the Ming dinasty to gain China, becomes the first ruler of the Qing dinasty and demands from King In-jo of Joseon to bow before him; but he refuses, being loyal to the Mings. On December 14th, 1636, the Qing horde invades Joseon, so King In-jo and his court shelter in the mountain fortress of Namhan and prepare to defend the kingdom.

US Gross: $252,895
Worldwide: $28.65M
Lee Byung-hun
Actor
Kim Yoon-seok
Actor
Park Hae-il
Actor
🏆 Asian Film Academy 2018 — Best Cinematography

Namhansanseong is a meticulously crafted historical drama that prioritizes political nuance and thematic substance over standard war-movie spectacle. While some viewers may find the deliberate pacing challenging, the film earns praise for its authentic production design and its willingness to challenge traditional nationalist narratives.

Production The production design authentically captures the harsh, freezing realities of 17th-century siege warfare through detailed period interiors and combat weaponry.
Screenplay The screenplay breaks from conventional genre tropes by presenting morally ambiguous characters and deconstructing traditional notions of heroic sacrifice.
Pacing The film's meditative, slow-burn approach rewards viewers seeking political depth, though others feel the deliberate tempo drags significantly.
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