Women of the Chosun Dynasty (1969) - full transcript

The Tragic History of Joseon Women.

Screenplay Lee Sang-hyeon.

Choi Eun-hee Kim Ji-mee.

Yoon Jeong-hee Nam Jeong-im.

Hwang Jung-seun Ju Jeung-ryu Han Eun-jin

Kim Ji-su Do Keum-bong Sa Mi-ja.

Seok In-soo Lee Yong-nam Ji Gye-sun
Ra Jeong-ok Lee Jeong-ae Bark Ye-sook.

Yun Sin-ok Kim Sin-myeong Kim Kyeong-ran
Moon Mi-bong Kim So-jeo Kim Jee-yeong.

Shin Young-kyun O
Yeong-il Nam Koong Won.

Park Am Lee Hyang Choi Sam
Choi Seong Jang Hun Park Gi-beom.

Byun Ki-jong Kang Kye-shik Kim Ung Yang
Il-min Jang In-hwan Chae Hun Jo Deok-seong



Kim Ki-ju Jang Jeong-kuk
Hong Seong-jung Lee.

Jong-cheol Park Bu-yang
Park Seung-ui Lee Nan-hui.

Music Jeong Yoon-joo.

Cinematography: Choi Seung-woo
Lighting: Ma Yong-cheon.

Developing:
Korea Film Developing Lab.

Assistant Director Lee
Jang-ho Park Geon-tae-rang.

Camera Assistant: Choe Seok-ju.

Lighting Assistant: Kim Tae-seong
Production Manager: An Dae-seong.

Production
Coordinator Byeon Suk-jong.

Still Photography: Lee Hyeong-jin
Makeup: Chae Hun So Suk-ja.

Property Lee Yong-gi
Costume Kim Gyeong-suk.

Shin Young-kyun
O Yeong-il Nam Koong Won.

Chief Producer Park Haeng-cheol.

Director: Shin Sang-ok
Assistant Director: Lee Kyeong-tae.



A woman must obey her husband.

Oh, my body feels so supple
and relaxed.

It sure is spring.
Isn't that right, Miss?

A long-braided bachelor to marry the
old maid! Will he come this spring?

Even if you're an ignorant servant, a
grown-up girl shouldn't behave like that.

Get up right now!

You're going to embarrass me.
Let's pack our things and go.

- Yes, Miss.
- Hey, look over there.

You seem like sons from noble families.
You shouldn't fool around like this.

- You, boys!
- A girl is scolding us, huh?

Why, you!

I'm Master Ahn's
third-generation only son!

- You should know better.
- Didn't you know that?

Then you must know men and women
shouldn't mingle from the age of seven.

She's quite pretty.

- Quite cute.
- Take that hand off her!

- Why, you rascals!
- Let's run away!

I should pick your little wiener
and make pickles!

I'm going to teach you a lesson.

- Bok-sil!
- Yes?

That's enough.

Hands off him.
You know whose son he is.

Stop being a rascal!

- Oh, there is blood...
- Little Master!

Little Master!

Oh, Little Master!

Why are you crying, Little Master?

I'm sorry.

He was being overly playful
so my servant girl pushed him off.

But she didn't mean
to push him that hard.

You shouldn't cry in front of ladies.

Let's go.
Your father is looking for you.

Oh, no! You wet your pants.

It's because they were teasing me.

Well done, sir. Well done.

You should go and get changed.

- Let's go home.
- Yes.

I've been heard how smart
Master Kang's granddaughter is.

But my son is so immature.

You're being too modest.

We're honored
to have a family like yours...

...as our in-law.

- Let's have the wedding ceremony in fall.
- Sure.

I'll send over our son's birth date
document on a good date.

Father!

Little Master!
You have to get changed!

- Father!
- Where are your manners?

Man-deuk, say hello to this gentleman.

Oh, my goodness.
Why is your bottom like this?

You eat and pee, too.
Don't you, father?

How dare!

Our great grandfather's lucky grave
site must be paying off now.

There is no doubt
about the prestige of the family,

...but the boy doesn't sound
all that great.

Don't say that.
These days even the most capable ones

can't succeed without help
from powerful families.

To be honest,
this is good news for our family.

This marriage will bring wealth
to our little girl...

...and may be even open the path
to success for your husband.

The boy's birth date document
will come soon.

Make sure she behaves properly
all the time.

What are the seven sins of a wife?

Disrespect, infertility, perverseness,

...jealousy, severe illness,
gossiping,

...theft are the seven sins.

If she disrespects her parents-in-law,

...does not give birth to a son,

...is unfaithful to her husband,

...becomes jealous of his concubine,

...contracts an incurable illness,

...causes trouble by gossip mongering,

...steals things,

...then her husband can kick her out.

What are the three duties of a woman?

The three duties are...

...before marriage,
she must obey her parents...

...after marriage,
she must obey her husband...

...after her husband's death,
she must follow her children.

Always have this silver dagger on you,

...as a symbol
of a woman's virtuousness.

If you commit the sins
or fail the duties we talked about...

...then you must kill yourself
to avoid shaming your family.

Man-deuk! Man-deuk!

Oh, my...

What are you so upset about?

Aren't you upset at all?

I pity the young thing who'll live as
a widow but what can we do?

The heavens have decided so.

Then you'll still send So-yeon
to that family?

The patrons of the two families
made a pact. We can't break that.

But if Master Ahn refuses her...

They won't do that.
No parents want their son to become

a lonely ghost with nobody to
hold memorial service or offer food.

Why would they say no
to a virtuous daughter-in-law?

I realize that a promise
between the patrons are important...

...but we can't have our young girl
become a lifeless widow.

We haven't even received
the boy's birth date document yet.

The men have decided so.
I don't want to hear any more talk!

But, dear...

Everyone knows about
our marriage with Master Ahn's family.

Who would want to marry our girl
if we break it off now?

Father!

Go away!

Even an ignorant woman
should know...

...that it's better to
bring honor to the family...

...as a woman of virtue
rather than be pointed at...

...as an unfaithful woman
all her life.

If you bring this up again,
you'll be dispelled from my house!

Deceased Husband.

Memorial Plaque.

At the time,
a virtuous widow in the family...

...was awarded with
exemption from tax, military service...

...a special title
and a memorial gate.

The road to success opened up
for Master Kang's house.

Give it to me.
The madam will scold us.

- Let me take it.
- Stop it.

- Give it to me.
- Go away. I'll take it.

- The madam will scold us.
- What is going on?

Oh, he is just being...

He wants to help me carrying the food
tray because I'm getting heavy.

What? Heavy?

She's with child.
It's already been three months.

I apologize for the trouble.

I want you both to leave.

A man shouldn't be in the kitchen.

Sit down.

I've never said this before...

...but I've heard people praise...

...your good manners and virtue.

I'm very pleased to hear such praises.

And I know you must be lonely
at such a young age.

You're too kind.

My inadequacies caused his death.

In fact, I am embarrassed that

I haven't followed him to the grave.

We've agreed to
let you visit your parents.

No, a daughter no longer belongs
to her parents once she marries.

I'm a widow no less
so I shouldn't leave the house.

Looking at you, I can see
how honorable your family is.

It makes me bow my head in respect.

Hey, come on.

Come over here.

I can hear his powerful voice,
Father, I'll come out soon.

- Let me look.
- Who says you can?

- Don't say that.
- Somebody will see us.

Look at his eyes. Just like yours.

Look at his nose. Just like yours.

- Of course, we made the baby together.
- Right.

Oh, our baby is so handsome.

Please let me see So-yeon
before I die.

Worrying about her has made me ill
in the first place.

Why won't the customs of the nobles...

...allow a dying parent
to see her own girl?

Don't the nobles have
parents and children?

Who needs nobles like that?
Give them to the dogs!

Wicked woman. You've lost your mind.

Dear...

Madam, madam!

Your father is coming.

- My father?
- Yes.

Give that to me.

Father!

Father!

- Have you been well?
- Yes, what about you?

Well, your parents-in-law told me

that you are setting a fine example
in everything you do.

I've heard that mother is ill.
Is she all right?

Ill? She's busy managing
the increasing wealth of our family.

I came by today to say hello
since she kept nagging me.

The in-laws have suggested that
I visit home but I declined.

Perhaps I can visit home
with you today.

I just told you that everyone is fine.

What if people see you
and start false rumors? Such shame!

Didn't I teach you it's only right for
parents of noble families

to regard their daughter as dead
when she marries?

Don't ever think of coming home.

How can you say that to me?

Every day is like a year...

...but I've persevered silently
like a living corpse.

If I have to serve a dead husband
whom I've never met...

...why can't I see my living parents?

What sins have I committed
to live like this?

Quiet! What if someone hears you?

How can you say
such a disrespectful thing?

You are the woman of virtue
that everyone praises.

I've seen you so I'm going back.

- Sleep soundly...
- Bok-sil!

Oh, ma'am!

Come to my room
and don't let anyone see you.

All right.

To your parents' house?

Yes, I want your husband to take me.

I never get out
so I don't know the way.

You should go with the servants
carrying you in a palanquin.

It's like you're running away
in the middle of the night.

I told you I have my reasons.

Just do as I say.

I'll be waiting at the gazebo on the hill
at midnight.

- Ask your husband to guide me.
- Why...

This is for you.

- Oh, my goodness.
- Just take it.

Oh, my...

You're leaving us for good,
aren't you?

I'm going with you wherever you go.

I'm not letting you go alone.

Inside I'm tainted like a prostitute.

I can no longer wear this mask
of a virtuous wife and daughter-in-law.

I'd be better off becoming
a Buddhist nun.

Ma'am.

You should go now.

All right.

Sir, you have to stop her.

If the madam flees,
our family will be in big trouble.

Bring some wine and food.

Oh, that wine has...

The next morning,
a woman was found lying on a grave.

It was the grave of So-yeon's husband,
Man-deuk who died as a boy.

The dead woman was So-yeon.

But strangely, on her neck was
a silver dagger instead of an arrow.

A new memorial gate was erected
to honor her devotion and death.

The seven sins of a wife.

In the mountains, you often find
stone Buddha statues without noses.

This is because
of the superstition that...

...drinking the ground powder of
the Buddha's nose will give you a son.

You're chipping it off? Why, you!

You wicked women. Stop right there!

I saw you yesterday too!
You wicked women!

How dare you desecrate
Buddha like that!

You nasty women!

Geez...

Snamas amitabha. Avalokite? Vara.

The seven sins of a wife
that a woman can be expelled for.

The worst sin is not giving a son
to carry on the family line.

Not producing a son
is the worst sin

that a woman could commit.

This woman has been
married for ten years.

She has tried everything.
Famous temples, powerful shamans,

miraculous trees and stones.

But she was not able to produce a son.

Why, you!

You fool! Don't you even have a nose?

The tonic is almost burned.
Remove it from the fire!

Oh, you idiot! Why don't you just die!

For ten years,
the house has reeked of herbs.

Put it down.

I'm so sick of this.

If the tonic was going to the trick,
it would've worked already.

What's the point of all this?
Oh, my miserable life!

Dear, you should retire
to the guest room.

I'm exhausted
so I'll sleep here tonight.

Please go before mother
says something.

Don't you have any pride as a woman?
Chasing me off to a mistress?

I'm no good to you as a woman.

I'd be glad,
if the mistress can give you a son.

I think it's all useless.

If it was going to work,
I wouldn't have needed so many mistresses.

These days,
I'm starting to think that...

...it's my fault
that we can't have a child.

Don't say such a thing.

It's all my fault.

The more you try to defend me,
the more it pains my heart.

Now please go.

- Ma'am.
- Yes?

The to... to...

- Tonic.
- Give it to the other lady.

Go on.

This is bad.
The Kang family line may end here.

Then what shall we do?

That wife brought bad luck,
the family line will end.

Then should I kick her out?

- It's no use.
- Please help us.

The baby will not come.
The Kang family line will end here.

Kick her out at once!

We have to do something
or we'll never get a grandson.

How can you kick out the daughter of a
noble family on just a shaman's words?

What?

You care about her family?
What about our family?

So it's all right for our family
to be ruined?

She knows about the
seven sins of a wife.

So she should've left this house
on her own.

I've put up with her for ten years.

If you don't want
our family line to end here...

...then kick her out
and find a new wife for our son.

- Why...
- Mother!

She no longer belongs to her parents.

If you kick her out,
she will die on the street.

How can we say that it's all her fault
that we can't have a child?

Perhaps the fault is with me.

How dare you say such a thing?

You're going too far
to defend her.

Will you still defend her
even when our family line ends?

Oh...

Oh, my goodness!

Ma'am!

Seong-chil! Seong-chil!

Seong-chil! Seong-chil!

Please help me, boy.

Seong-chil, please help me.

Seong-chil!

Ma'am!

Ma'am!

Seong-chil, please...

Ma'am!

Here. Take those.

Go somewhere far away.

Don't ever come back.

Go far away and never come back.

Take them and go. Now.

Good bye.

The tonic pot is still boiling.

But the tonic is now
for the pregnant madam.

I can't believe it.

It doesn't matter
if it's a boy or a girl.

I'm just so glad
that you are pregnant.

You should go to work.

How come your face has been so dark
since becoming pregnant?

That's not true.

I'm not feeling well
since I'm quite old to be pregnant.

Oh, perhaps you have
a grudge in your heart...

...because you've been
so mistreated until now.

Oh, my goodness!

Dear, it's your tonic.

- Your father has it made for you.
- It's all right.

Please have the servants prepare it.

It's for my grandchild,
so I should do it.

Here. Your father-in-law
brewed it for you himself.

Can you imagine that reserved man
brewing tonic for his daughter-in-law?

Have it before it gets cold.

She wishes she were
drinking poison instead.

She has made up her mind to drink poison
on the day she gives birth.

Gosh!

I told you not to come back.

You have to leave.

I caught this for you...

I almost died drowning...

Hurry up and go!
Don't ever come back!

Go!

What's wrong, darling?

Well, its...

Isn't that Seong-chil?

Why, you!
You disappeared without a word.

Even if you're an imbecile servant,
you can't disappear like that!

This is...

I caught it for the madam...

Why, that boy...

He did a worthy thing.
I'll forgive him for your sake.

Since you came back,
I'll forgive you this one time.

Then I can stay?

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Seong-chil, can you fetch some water?

I have to fire up the madam's room.

Look at this idiot!
He's so devoted to the madam.

Oh, the rings!

Those are madam's rings! Why, you!

Let go!

Ma'am! Ma'am!

You beast!

Why are you beating on Sam-wol?

You should just do your work!
What happened, Sam-wol?

Here...

- Madam's rings.
- Why!

Tell me the truth!

That ungrateful fool!
Beat him until he speaks.

Yes, sir.

You bastard!

You bastard!

Speak now!

Just turn him over to
the district office.

Yes.

Mother.

I...

Why are you out?

Dear, don't be shocked.

We found out Seong-chil
stole your rings.

Look.

You can never tell with people.

Who would've thought
an idiot like him could steal things?

- Hurry! Take him away!
- Yes, sir.

Stop right there.

He's really a fool.
He can't stand up for himself.

I gave them to you
for catching the rare carp for me.

Why did you just stand there
instead of saying something?

What a terrible fool you are!
Here, take them!

Please forgive him, Mother.
I gave them to him.

Oh, I had no idea.

Let's go!

Oh, Mother!

- Oh, Mother.
- Just a little bit more. Good.

Good.

Push! Push!

Push!

Father.

Thank you, Father.

Father.

Father.

Oh...

Give me the baby.

Here.

When should I die?

I've been hesitating
because I'm still breastfeeding the baby.

But I can't take it anymore.

Darling,
why are you not eating at all?

You must eat for the baby's sake.

What are your symptoms?

Why are you laughing, Dr. Yun?

I've been away for a whole year,
getting herbs in Beijing.

I see you've learned to joke
in that time.

Once you know there is nothing you can do,
a man just has to accept his fate.

To be honest,
keeping the secret was hard for me too.

Keeping the secret?
What do you mean?

Do you really not know?

Last month, we had a huge feast
celebrating the birth of my boy.

I came to get medicine for my wife
who isn't well after the childbirth.

Doctor Yun!

What's wrong?
You're hiding something from me.

I'm glad to hear of
your long-awaited son.

Well...

Doctor Yun! Please tell me the truth!

Doctor Yun!

When you, the long-awaited son
was born in the Kang family

they fed you all kinds of tonics
for your health.

When you were about ten,
they didn't follow the prescription...

...and fed you too much
Bovis Calculus.

So you became permanently infertile.

Tell me the truth!

Darling, please calm down.
You must have heard rumors.

What?

Are you still trying to fool me?
Whose child is this?

Such words!
Don't you feel sorry for the innocent baby?

What?

Tell me, you wench! I'm infertile!

- Dear.
- Darling...

- Sit down. I'll go.
- Whose baby is this?

- Tell me! Tell me now!
- Darling...

Die! Die!

Darling, you have to trust me.

Please, darling.

Oh, my goodness!

Darling!

Darling!

Darling, the baby is...

...a son of the Kang family.

Darling! Darling!

Darling!

Please...

Please trust me.

Why, you!

Oh, dear...

How can this be!

Dear...

- Dear!
- Ma'am!

- Dear! Dear...
- Ma'am! Ma'am!

There, there.

Forbidden desires in the palace.

The palace
where the king rules all the people.

It is a place filled
with tragic stories.

There are some 300 women
for just one man.

The women all have different roles.

Ladies who care for his garments and bed.
Ladies who oversee the customs.

Ladies who sew his garments.
Ladies who prepare his medicines.

Even ones in charge of discipline
and ones that assist him by his side.

Only the king has access
to these court ladies...

...and they could never leave the palace
once they entered.

There was only one way.

When they died,
their bodies were wrapped in straw mats.

The gates would then open for the corpse
in the dead of the night.

The king is retiring for the night.

- You may leave.
- Yes, your majesty.

Of all the court ladies,
the hardest job was the one...

...of the Sangchim Court Lady...

...in charge of the
king's bed chamber.

Come closer.

Yes, your majesty.

I'm embarrassed.

Please blow out the light.

Please let go of your hand.

What would you have me do?

Come closer.

And then?

Then they went under the sheets
and his majesty said breathlessly...

...you are the jewel of
all the court ladies.

Then Lady Yun said...

Then will you summon my parents
to court this time?

- Then what?
- Then his majesty said,

That all depends on what you do,
twice in row.

Then?

She said, what would you have me do?

He then said,

It's perfect as it is, and laughed.

His breath became quick again,

and Lady Yun said,
please turn out the light.

Then I heard the curfew lift.

Make sure you write
every single thing down.

Yes.

Ma'am, may I make a request?

Forgive me for asking,
but would you change me to another role?

One can never request anything
at the palace.

You just do as you are told.

Oh, dear. What is going on?

- What happened?
- What's wrong with her?

Oh, there is blood.

Dear, what did you do?

Oh, my goodness!

What is going on here?

- Ma'am, we have a big problem.
- What?

Let's see.

Ma'am, feel her belly.
There is movement.

No...

Could it be that you are pregnant?

If it's a baby, whose is it?

If it were the king's,
you wouldn't be hiding it like this.

We're in big trouble.

Court Lady Kim! Court Lady Kim!

Court Lady Kim!

Do you know about the court lady scandal
during King Sejong's reign?

This is outrageous!
How could this have happened?

Master Gwon, the King's son-in-law stole
away a court lady named Gomi

from the princess's palace and
over 100 were arrested for being involved.

Some 10 men and women servants
were executed.

Ma'am, it's all the same for us
who wither away

longing for the touch of his majesty
that may never come.

But please pity the baby
that is growing in her belly.

Her pregnancy is already advanced.
If I may say so...

...don't we all envy her condition?

Isn't it our secret wish
to have a baby...

...no matter whose baby it is?

Quiet! We're all doomed to die now.

Go back to your rooms.

Go now!

What is going on here?

- Why isn't your light out yet?
- Who's the lady that got carried inside?

It's nothing. Please leave us.

Nothing?

- Oh! Isn't that blood?
- Blood...

It's women's business.
Please go your way.

But we have to know what happened.

I'll tell you if you must know.

She's always been frail.
Her medicine caused her to discharge blood.

- Discharge blood?
- Oh, that's horrible.

Yeongodang House.

Some years ago, the place was closed down
after typhoid went around.

They said ghosts howled
even in broad daylight...

...and kept their distance.

Originally it was used to store ice
used in the palace.

You have to push.

Hold on tight and push.

Just a little bit more.

Hold her tightly.

Push a little bit more.

There.

- Good.
- One more time.

A little bit more.

It's a boy.

They could hide her from everyone...

...saying that she was
severely ill for awhile.

I'm sorry.

Let's see our precious Gui-dong.

Have it before it gets cold.

Who is the father?

We can't hide you
like this much longer.

Shouldn't we find the father
and come up with a plan?

Who is the boy's father?

You must tell us.

Why won't you say anything?

It's all my fault.

If I disappear,
you wouldn't have to go through all this.

You are deceiving us.

Are you worried that
the man will be in trouble?

I really don't know who he is.

So you're really not going to tell us?

You don't trust us, huh?
You stubborn girl!

Do whatever you want then.

We're trying to help you.

Why won't you tell us?

Calm down and eat the food.
Give me the baby.

Perhaps it was the heavens
that bestowed the opportunity.

A senior court lady who used to
assist the king was on her death bed.

I need to talk to you.

What? Switch the corpse?

The only way a court lady can
leave the palace is as a corpse.

We can put the mother in the coffin instead
and bury the corpse in the cave.

Don't you know
a court lady's dead body...

...is wrapped in a straw mat
not put in a coffin?

Not this time.

I'm telling you since I heard
that they especially allowed her

to be carried in a coffin.

Even if she leaves
the palace like that...

- ...someone on the outside must take her.
- We must find the father.

But she won't talk no matter what.

I'll send a word to her brother
just in case.

Oh...

Don't blow out the light.

Don't be startled. I'm the guilty man.

Oh...

Since that night of shame,

I tried to forget you
convincing myself...

...it was just an impulsive mistake.
But I found myself looking for you...

...knowing very well what would happen
if they found out.

When you disappeared,
I thought you'd killed yourself.

So I risked my life
and went into the court ladies' quarters...

...and followed a suspicious lady
to find this place.

Here. This is a token of that night.

No, please leave.

I'm as good as dead.
I don't blame anyone.

I'll die happily
now that you've come for me.

Finally... I can die in peace now.

If you die, then I will too.

We will die together
and live together.

If we're prepared to risk our lives
then there will be a way.

If anything,
you have to live for the baby's sake.

Leave it up to me. We will never part.
Not again...

Oh, my goodness!

- What's wrong?
- Oh...

- Isn't that a soldier?
- Yes.

He's found them.
We're in big trouble. Hide!

- Come over here.
- Hurry up. Quickly!

Hurry up!

Hurry up and hide! Quickly!

We're in big trouble.

Grab him!

Grab his feet!

Why, you!

Get up now.

Be careful.

That was close.

Hold him up. Hurry.

There.

There.

Push him.

- Find some rocks.
- Yes.

- Hurry up!
- Let's take this one.

Bring it here quickly.

Place there.

There.

- You must tie it tightly.
- Tie it on him tightly.

Make sure it doesn't come undone.

Let's carry him.

No!

- What's the matter?
- No!

- What's wrong?
- Let me go!

- What's wrong?
- It's him!

- What did you say?
- You have to stop.

- Let me go!
- What are you saying?

Dear! Let me go!

- My dear!
- Stop it!

My dear!

No!

You can't die even if you want.

Now you're truly Gui-dong's mother.

Raising Gui-dong is the only thing...

...you can do for the dead man.

The next night,
the side door of Yogeummun Gate opens,

...and Senior Court Lady's coffin
leaves the palace.

Stop! Stop the coffin!

There is a bizarre rumor going around.

A living person is said to
be in the coffin instead of a corpse.

If you know about the rumor,
come forward now.

If nobody does
and I find that the rumor is true...

...when I open the coffin...

...then I will gouge out
the eyes and...

...cut the tongues of everyone
for just being here.

Fine.
Then I'll stab through the coffin.

- No!
- Ha!

- No!
- Why, you wicked...

Don't defile her dead body
just because of some rumor.

You can't defile a corpse
unless it's high treason.

You and I are all living corpses
in the palace anyway.

Don't disgrace her death.
It's too cruel.

- It's too cruel!
- Get out of my way.

No!

I've made a mistake.

Escort the Senior Lady's
dead body out.

Hurry up and escort her out.

Come on. Let's escort her out.

Shin Film 1969