History Film / TheKingAndTheClown

* FreudianExcuse: The murder of the King's mother as justification for his being so unhinged comes to the fore after one of the clowns' performances. It verges on an OedipusComplex, with Gong-gil taking her role in the aforementioned play and Nok-su playing "Mommy" in private.

%% * TriangRelations

%% * BareYourMidriff: Most of Gong-gil's performance outfits are revealing.

* TheCaligula: Based on the actual ruler Yeonsangun of Joseon, the King of the film is ruthless and erratic in his behaviour, but also [[ManOfWealthAndTaste very cultured]] and [[PetTheDog rather sympathetic at times]]

* UptownGirl: The King's fixation with a male street clown is a major point of contention in the court and used to he
lp justify their coup. Nok-su is implied to also have caused friction for being lower class, but Nok-su is better at [[ManipulativeBastard court intrigue]] than Gong-gil is.

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/itkindofsuckswhenyo%% uaretheofficialconsortandyouarestillnotasprettyastheragamuffinmaleclown.jpg]]

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/itkindofsuckswhenyouaretheofficialconsortandyouarestillnotasprettyastheragamuffinmaleclown.jpg]]

* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: The King.
* [[EvenTheGuysWantHim All The Guys Want Him]]: Gong-gil, and ''how.''
* BareYourMidriff: Most of Gong-gil's performance outfits feature this prominently
* {{Bishonen}}[=/=]LongHairedPrettyBoy: Gong-gil is about the prettiest you get in real life. See bottom left of page picture.

* ChekhovsGun: Gong-gil and Jang-saeng have identical handwriting.

* DownerEnding[=/=]BittersweetEnding: The film's denouement seems especially sad in comparison to its cheery, hopeful exposition.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Gong-gil finally]] until it's {{interrupted|Suicide}}. [[spoiler:However the mutual suicide of Gong-gil and Jang-saeng at the end goes off successfully despite a massive interruption by LaResistance.]]

* AFriendInNeed
* GallowsHumour: After Jang-saeng [[spoiler:is blinded]] his jokes get downright morbid.
* {{Gayngst}}: One of the gayngstiest Asian period dramas you'll ever see.
* GoOutWithASmile
* HopeSpot: Arriving in Seoul and getting hired by the King ''seems'' positive, briefly.
* HotConsort[=/=]TheMistress (originally): Nok-su. Hot ''and'' a total bitch.

* HurricaneOfPuns: Well they're clowns.

* LoveRuinsTheRealm: The ministers view the King's dalliance with Gong-gil as this.
* ManChild: The king, and in this case it's not endearing so much as tragic and terrifying.
* PeriodPiece
* PleaseDontLeaveMe: Poor Gong-gil can neither get away from court nor convince Jang-saeng to stay with him.
* PleaseSpareHimMyLiege: Several times by Gong-gil, once for an entire night. [[spoiler: It doesn't work.]]

* TakingTheHeat: When Nok-su frames Gong-gil for defamation Jang-saeng steps in.
* TraumaCongaLine: The entire plot.
* TriangRelations: Probably type 7, although there is lots of ambiguity.
* UptownGirl: Gender-inverted. The King's fixation with a male street clown is a major point of contention in the court and used to help justify their coup. Nok-su is implied to also have caused friction for being lower class, but Nok-su is better at [[ManipulativeBastard court intrigue]] than Gong-gil is.

The film is particularly notable for being a relatively low budget production starring few famous actors which highly features the traditional arts and has homosexual undertones, yet broke all [[UsefulNotes/{{SouthKorea}} Korean]] box office records before it. Interestingly it also came out the same year as ''Film/BrokebackMountain''.

* {{Bare Your Midriff}}: Most of Gong-gil's performance outfits feature this prominently
* {{Bishonen}}/{{Long Haired Pretty Boy}}: Gong-gil is about the prettiest you get in real life. See bottom left of page picture.

* {{Downer Ending}}/{{Bittersweet Ending}}: The film's denouement seems especially sad in comparison to its cheery, hopeful exposition.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Gong-gil finally]] until it's [[InterruptedSuicide interrupted]]. [[spoiler:However the mutual suicide of Gong-gil and Jang-saeng at the end goes off successfully despite a massive interruption by LaResistance.]]

* {{Hot Consort}}/{{The Mistress}} (originally): Nok-su. Hot ''and'' a total bitch.

* InterClassRomance: The King's fixation with a male street clown is a major point of contention in the court and used to help justify their coup. Nok-su is implied to also have caused friction for being lower class, but Nok-su is better at [[ManipulativeBitch court intrigue]] than Gong-gil is.

* {{Manchild}}: The king, and in this case it's not endearing so much as tragic and terrifying.

* FreudianExcuse: The murder of the King's mother as justification for his being so unhinged comes to the fore after one of the clowns' performances.

The film is particularly notable for being a relatively low budget production starring few famous actors which highly features the traditional arts and has homosexual undertones, yet broke all [[UsefulNotes/{{SouthKorea}} Korean]] box office records before it. Interestingly it also came out the same year as ''BrokebackMountain''.

The film is particularly notable for being a relatively low budget production starring few famous actors which highly features the traditional arts and has homosexual undertones, yet broke all Korean box office records before it. Interestingly it also came out the same year as ''BrokebackMountain''.

Set in 16th century Korea, Jang-saeng and Gong-gil are exceptionally good jesters in a small-time performing troupe. Despite their skill money is sparse and to increase earnings the troupe master prostitutes Gong-gil to rich patrons. The film begins with Jang-saeng finally snapping and convincing Gong-gil to run away to Seoul with him.

From there [[ItGetsWorse things get worse]].

* ItGetsWorse: Jang-saeng proposes at the start of the film that he and Gong-gil either run away or kill themselves. The latter may have been a better idea.

* {{Gayngst}}

* TakingTheHeat: When Nok-su frames Gong-gil for defamation Jaeng-sang steps in.

* RedStringOfFate: It is strongly implied that Jang-saeng and Gong-gil will [[spoiler: [[ReincarnationRomance be reborn]] and meet again in the next life, presumably as minstrels again.]]

* {{Bishonen}}/{{Long-Haired Pretty Boy}}: Gong-gil is about the prettiest you get in real life. See bottom left of page picture.

* {{Bishonen}}: Gong-gil is about the prettiest you get in real life. See bottom left of page picture.

* PleaseSpareHimMyLiege: Several times by Gong-gil, once for an entire night. Sadly it never actually works.

Set in 16th century Korea, Jaeng-sang and Gong-gil are exceptionally good jesters in a small-time performing troupe. Despite their skill money is sparse and to increase earnings the troupe master prostitutes Gong-gil to rich patrons. The film begins with Jaeng-sang finally snapping and convincing Gong-gil to run away to Seoul with him.

After competing with the self-proclaimed best clowns in Seoul they find themselves both with [[DefeatMeansFriendship potential troupe mates]] and great material for their show--the sexual exploits of the king. Though popular their act quickly finds them arrested, and it is only through Gong-gil and Jaeng-sang making a spectacular saving performance in front of the king himself that allows them not only to live, but also be taken on permanently in the royal court.

However, court life is beset with peril as the bloodthirsty King, his jealous consort, and the resentful advisors come constantly in conflict. The jesters are unable to avoid getting caught up in it, due to their highly controversial shows and to the King's increasing obsession with the beautiful Gong-gil. Once again Jaeng-sang and Gong-gil find themselves lead down the same road they started, but the stakes are much, much higher.

* [[EvenTheGuysWantHim All The Guys Want Him]]

* {{Downer Ending}}/{{Bittersweet Ending}}
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Gong-gil finally]] until it's [[InterruptedSuicide interrupted]]. [[spoiler:However the mutual suicide of Gong-gil and Jaeng-sang at the end goes off successfully despite a massive interruption by LaResistance.]]

* GallowsHumour: After Jaeng-sang [[spoiler:is blinded]] his jokes get downright morbid.

* ItGetsWorse: Jaeng-sang proposes at the start of the film that he and Gong-gil either run away or kill themselves. The latter may have been a better idea.
* KickTheDog: Despite being TheHero, Jaeng-sang gets these moments halfway through in his treatment of Gong-gil, for whom he hithertofore was TheChampion. This is presumably from misunderstanding that Gong-gil is in a very precarious position by this time and cannot leave the King no matter how much he may want to. Some of it may be a verbal approach to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan.

* PleaseDontLeaveMe: Poor Gong-gil can neither get away from court nor convince Jaeng-sang to stay with him.

* RedStringOfFate