A Frozen Flower

(2008)

★ 6.9 IMDb · 164 votes

Genres: Drama

Year: 2008

Runtime: 132 мин

Country: South Korea

Director: 유하

Cast: Чо Ин-сон, Чу Чжин Мо, Сон Чжи Хё, 심지호, 임주환, 여욱환, Сон Чжун Ки, 조진웅, Но Мин У, 김춘기

Plot

A despotic king orders his male lover to produce an heir for him with his Queen. But when they instead fall in love, will tragic consequences follow?

The period is the late 14th century, and the last waning gasp of the centuries-old Goryeo Dynasty. As that regime comes to a bitter end thanks to the machinations of the Yuan Dynasty, The Goryeo king responds by organizing a military force known as Kunryongwe, led by the daunting commander Hong Lim. The leader captivates the king to an alarming degree - to such an extent, in fact, that he almost completely diverts the regent's attention away from his queen, leaving her with tremendous feelings of reluctance and hesitancy about this relationship. Meanwhile, the manipulativeness of the Yuan doubles: they unsuccessfully attempt to subvert the king by placing a threatening ruler in a high position, but the king - sensing this Machiavellian scheme - adamantly refuses, much to the consternation of the top-tiered Goryeo officials. The ruler also devises a complex and wickedly clever scheme to protect the Goryeo line for future generations by appointing Hong Lim to impregnate the queen and father a new ruler with her.