(aka "Chihwaseon" or "Chi-hwa-seon" or "Painted Fire" or "Drunk on Women and Poetry")

directed by Im Kwon-taek
South Korea 2002

Korean master Im Kwon-taek shared the best director prize at Cannes in 2002 for this old-fashioned, beautifully crafted biopic of painter Jang Seung-up... Jang's life provides more than enough drama and historical incident for this rich evocation of Korea's past; against the backdrop of Chinese and Japanese colonization, political reform, and popular revolt, his career as a rebel artist plays out in a brisk series of episodes, and this telegraphic narrative, with elegant ellipses separating precisely delineated moments, becomes a perfect analogue to his vibrantly impressionistic brushwork. ... Ultimately this triumph of cinematography and art direction, which translates easily into Western art-house fare, remains vulnerable to its own internal critique of art as commodity.

Excerpted from a review by Shelly Kraicer, full review HERE

Theatrical Release: May 10, 2002 - South Korea

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

Recommended Books on Korean Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

DVD Comparison:

Kino - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Cinema Service (2 Disc) - Region 3 - NTSC

Big thanks to Donald Brown and Fred Patton for the screen captures!

(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

 

Thinking of buying from YesAsia? CLICK HERE and use THIS UPDATED BEAVER PAGE to source their very best...

Distribution

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Cinema Service
Region 3 - NTSC
Runtime 1:56:32 1:59:40
Video 1.80:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.80 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.18 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Kino

 

Bitrate:

Cinema Service

 

Audio Korean (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Korean (Dolby Digital 5.1), Korean (DTS)

Subtitles English (burned in) English, Korean and none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.80:1

Edition Details:
• Theatrical trailer (2:30)
• Slide show (5:20)
• Stills gallery: Behind the Scenes
• Stills gallery: The art of Chihwaseon

DVD Release Date: February 3, 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 20


Release Information:
Studio: Cinema Service

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Cast Information, Film Festival Footage, Interviews, More, Photo Gallery, Production Notes, Television Spots, Trailer

NOTE: 2nd disc Extras have No English subtitles)

DVD Release Date: December 21st, 2002
Keep Case

Chapters 11+

 

Comments: Hmmm... aside from the obvious - that the anamorphic Cinema Service two disc DVD with 5.1 or DTS sound is superior in just about every area than the Kino Region 0 NTSC - one of these DVD images is slightly skew. The Cinema Service DVD looks slightly stretched to my eye - characters are appearing a little longer and thinner than in the Kino side. Then again this may be exaggerated as the Kino characters faces look a little fatter to me. Unfortunately the Cinema Service DVD's 2nd disc of Extras have no subtitles, but other than that I would say it is the definitive version of this film on DVD right now. The Kino looks inordinately dark with an occasional bluish tinge and much less sharp than the Region 3 DVD. The CS image is slightly cropped on the left and top edges. Easy choice to go with the Cinema Service, even with the negligibly elongated aspect ratio. 

NOTE: There is a "Wooden Box" Special Edition DVD version of this film from Cinema Service, but the transfer is the same as this one.

- Gary W. Tooze





DVD Menus

(
Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 


Subtitle sample

(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


 

Screen Captures

(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - BOTTOM)


 


(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 


 

(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 


 

(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Cinema Service - Region 3 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

DVD Box Covers

 

Thinking of buying from YesAsia? CLICK HERE and use THIS UPDATED BEAVER PAGE to source their very best...

Distribution

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Cinema Service
Region 3 - NTSC

 


Hit Counter


Report Card:

 

Image:

Cinema Service

Sound:

Cinema Service

Extras: Cinema Service
Menu: Cinema Service




 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

Mail cheques, money orders, cash to:    or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im's - Chihwaseon - DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review Kwon-taek Im Chihwaseon DVD Review