I am not a fan of Korean drama movies which usually are full of tears, unfortunate events, and illnesses. But this one - Jewel in the Palace - is eally something. On one fine day, out of the blue, Har bought it for me through the internet. I didn't ask. I didn't even know that he would enjoy such a Korean movie.

But he wouldn't watch this Korean movie for a revenge. He simply didn't watch
it. He just forced ME to watch - on behalf of him.

Of course.

Har just learned from whatever resources he had, that this movie was great,
received excellent praises and awards worldwide, enjoyed top ratings on TVs all
over Asian countries including Indonesia, and would tell a great deal of Korean
history and culture in the era of Joeseon Dynasty. He really loves history!

But this serial movie is not truly historical. It is only based loosely on the
historical figure, Jang Geum, the first female royal physician in the Joeseon
Dynasty of Korea. Played wonderfully by Lee Young Ae, Jang Geum would reflect a
strong perseverance of  a Korean woman in order to achieve what she believes
under various huge obstacles.

Great story line. But, too melodramatic at the beginning...

It started with the King Seong Jong's order to poison the mother of his own
Crown Prince's mother. One of the imperial guards who carried on the order, Suh
Cheon Su, was troubled deeply by the death of the Crown Prince's mother,
especially because he was the one who brought the poisonous drink to her.

He became more depressed when one Confucian monk he met, told him his
premonition.

"Your fate will be destined by three women. You killed the first woman, though
you didn't want to. You will save the second one, but she will die because of
you. The third one will kill you, but save thousands."

And the story would then be wrapped around the fates of these women. It is a
story about palace girls in Korea in the 16th century. And it is colorful, rich,
flowing and... hmm, delicious! True. Because it is about the girls who are
competing to earn the highest honor in the royal kitchen, the scenes would come
with various coverage of exotic, delicious cuisines, here and there! The King
would always enjoy a set of delicious royal dishes, prepared delicately by those
lovely royal kitchen girls. I love those cooking scenes!!!

But, this is not a cooking movie. Yet.

Then, came the awful politics of the power in the palace. It is dirty and full
of twists. Murders and tears. And, yes: perseverance.

Har didn't watch. But...

"How far have you watched? How does Jang Geum cope with that cunning Madam
Chui?" asked Har when I entered the study to refill his cup of tea. I updated
him on how far I had watched.

A moment later.

"How far have you watched? How does Jang Geum meet again with Min Jo Ho?" asked
Har again, when I entered the study to close the windows. Again, I updated him.

Some moment later.

"How far have you watched? Has Jang Geum....?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Watch it yourself!!!"

"I don't want to see those melodramatic scenes. I hate to see those dramatized
cunning schemes. That's for women consumption only..."

"But you keep asking."

"I just wanna know the story, but I don't wanna watch."

Of course, he was  smart enough not to watch the crafty parts. The first two
third of the movie is indeed too melodramatic. Too much twisted politics. The
last one third part of it, when Jang Geum has successfully become the royal
physician, is actually the more interesting part, but the part that is not dug
deeply enough.

The interesting part is the one when the King Jung Jong realizes he has fallen
in love with Jang Geum and at the same time he finds out that there is actually
another man in Jang Geum's heart - the 'handsome' Min Jo Ho. Being a king, he
could order anything. Being a king, he could own anything or anyone.  But he is
not just a king. He is a kindhearted king. And being a kindhearted king, he
couldn't just grab Jang Geum. He wants her love.  And he wants to 'compete' with
Min Jo Ho to get her love.

At the archery contest between the two men, the King directly tells Min Jo Ho:

"I love Jang-Geum. Do you, too?"

I thought, oh no! How is Min Jo Ho supossed to answer the King?!

Min Jo Ho didn't answer.

"If you win this contest, you can have this royal bow. But if I am the winner,
would you give the silver trinket that Jang Geum gave you to me?" asked the King
to Min Jo Ho.

At this part, Har was sitting beside me. He punched my arm gently, and asked me
mischievously, "Do you think Min Jo Ho would let the King win?"

"Of course," I said. "Otherwise, he would be dead. It's the King's order!"

"Aouww!!!" Har yelled at me. "Stupid you!!! You don't understand MEN!"

What?! I stared at him.

Har smiled. "Look! Men would protect dearly to their hearts what they love. Men
would protect their egos, their PRIDE!"

Oh. Of course. He meant, REAL men.

And, yup! I suspected Har himself had already secretly, unpatiently,
intentionally, peeked in the very last part of the movie only to learn how the
story would end. Silly boy.

But as the story goes on, it's true. Min Jo Ho doesn't let the silver trinket
his lover gave him go to King Jung Jong, even at the cost of everything, even at
the cost of his life. Contrary to the royal tradition, Min Jo Ho doesn't let the
King win. The King is so upset and almost kill Min Jo Ho with his archer on the
set.

But he is not just a king. He is a kind-hearted king. So the story goes on and
on and on, in a real quick speed.

"Are you sad? I am happy.  Are you happy? I am sad. Are you scared? My heart
flutters like a butterfly. Are you brave? I am scared."  Min Jo Ho and Jang Geum
talked to each other upon running away from the palace.

Har didn't watch the first part of the movie, but he liked the last one third
part of the movie - when all the bad people had already long gone!

"This is actually the part that could be dug more deeply. The human, sensitive
part of the King who falls in love and who can just take everything but chooses
not to," said Har.

According to some reading, the historical truth is, the King Jung Jong of
Joeseon Dynasty of Korea did really fall in love with his female royal physician
- Jang Geum! He awarded Jang Geum with an honorable title 'The Great Jang Geum'
or in Korean, 'Dae Jang Geum'. That was the first in the history of Korea. And,
was the last, too.

That might indeed be interesting. But, this part goes quickly like a running
racing car in the Formula One match. Swooop! And the movie 'suddenly' ends with
Min Jo Ho's last utterance.

"This woman isn't meant for this era. When will women have their place?"

Overall, it is indeed a good movie that is full of colorful, rich description of
Korean culture, old time cuisine, and medicine. The setting is beautiful, the
characters are strong, and the story line (though too melodramatic at first) is
moving.  The message is a good reminder for all of us - that great spirits did,
and always do exist along with the history of mankind, in every culture, in
every nation, in every race, in every belief system...

- Laksmi