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- Korean Film News
- King and the Clown gets Royal Treatment
- by Nigel D’Sa (KOFIC) / Mar 10, 2006
- Having broken the all time box-office record at home just recently, the international English subtitled version of King and the Clown is underway and it is being translated by one of Korea's foremost scholars and public philosophers, KIM Yong-ok, whose pen-name is Do-ol. Dr. KIM is professor emeritus at Sunchon National University and Korea University. He is author of numerous books on philosophy, religion and art, has translated English philosophy into Korean and published a three-volume account of his 2-day interview with the Dalai Lama. Dr. KIM saw King and the Clown in January and was impressed by it enough to contact the production company and express his concern that an English translation be carefully done to bring across more clearly the finer points of Korean culture. When asked by director LEE Jun-ik for assistance, KIM volunteered to handle the project. He stated in an interview, "Just a little bit more of care enriches our culture. The way the world understands our culture depends on how it is translated or interpreted. It is the responsibility of literary men to show such care and lead in the cultural awakening". Dr. KIM is no stranger to translating film. In 2002 he translated director IM Kwon-taek's Chihwaseon (Strokes of Fire) which won the Best Director prize that year at the Cannes International Film Festival. For King and the Clown he has chosen the English title The Royal Jester which he says contains the ambiguity and multiple meanings of the original Korean title, namely a King's clown, a kingly clown, and a clownish king. The international version of the film is being prepared for this year's Cannes Film Festival and for release into foreign markets. It will contain a few additional scenes and lines to provide more of a background on the Chosun Kingdom (1392~ 1910). "There will be more details about a power struggle within the royal palace and why there was serious conflict between the King and his subjects", Director LEE said. Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)
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