The Face Reader (2013 Film)
The Face Reader (Korean: 관상; RR: Gwansang) is a 2013 South Korean period drama film directed by Han Jae-rim. Set during the 15th-century Joseon Dynasty, the narrative centers on Nae-kyung, a gifted physiognomist who becomes entangled in the dangerous political power struggles surrounding the throne.
Plot
Nae-kyung (played by Song Kang-ho) is a man from a disgraced noble family who possesses the uncanny ability to assess a person's personality, habits, and future by reading their facial features. Living in seclusion with his son, Jin-hyeong (Lee Jong-suk), and his brother-in-law, Paeng-hun (Cho Jung-seok), Nae-kyung eventually travels to Hanyang (modern-day Seoul) at the urging of a gisaeng named Yeon-hong (Kim Hye-soo). In the capital, his reputation as a physiognomist grows, eventually bringing him to the attention of the powerful Kim Jong-seo (Baek Yoon-sik). As the political landscape shifts following the death of King Munjong, Nae-kyung finds himself caught in the middle of a treasonous plot orchestrated by Prince Sooyang (Lee Jung-jae) to seize the throne.
Production
The screenplay for the film was written by Kim Dong-hyuk and Han Jae-rim, winning the grand prize at the 2010 Korean Scenario Contest hosted by the Korean Film Council. Principal photography for the film commenced on September 15, 2012, and concluded on December 12, 2012.
Cast
- Song Kang-ho as Nae-kyung
- Lee Jung-jae as Prince Sooyang
- Kim Hye-soo as Yeon-hong
- Baek Yoon-sik as Kim Jong-seo
- Cho Jung-seok as Paeng-hun
- Lee Jong-suk as Jin-hyeong
