(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – A scruffy man with windblown hair is forced to his knees, his piercing gaze locked onto his opponent as he swings his sword in a movement that seems almost like a dance. This is Gang Dong-won as Cheon-young, a character unlike any he has portrayed before in Netflix’s “Uprising.”
The period action film, which quickly climbed to third on Netflix’s non-English Global Top 10 movie chart after its October 11 release, follows the story of Cheon-young, a personal servant and member of the slave class, and his young master, Jong-ryeo, played by Park Jung-min.
Set in Korea’s mid-Joseon era (1392-1910), the film explores the complex relationship between Cheon-young and Jong-ryeo, who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of a slave rebellion during the Japanese invasion of Korea in the late 16th century.
Returning to historical drama for the first time in a decade, “Uprising” marks several firsts for Gang: his first starring role on a streaming platform, his first portrayal of a lower-class character, and his first time acting with a fake beard. “I regard myself as a better fit for a role like Cheon-young,” Gang shared in an interview in Seoul on October 23. “Personally, I wasn’t born rich; I grew up in a family somewhere between master and servant. So I feel much more comfortable playing a slave,” he added, laughing.
Gang’s casting as Cheon-young, a character with exceptional swordsmanship who dreams of challenging the social order, was suggested by celebrated filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who participated as the film’s producer. “I had a Zoom call with director Park, who told me that director Kim Sang-man has a flair for film and is regarded as a genius,” Gang recalled.
Kim and Park have a long history of collaboration, with Kim contributing as art director on Park’s “Joint Security Area” (2000) and later designing posters for films such as “Lady Vengeance” (2005), “I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK” (2006), and “Parasite” (2019). In “Uprising,” Kim’s artistic vision is evident, using vivid colours like blue and red to reflect the contrasting emotions and situations of the main characters.
“I was amazed by director Kim’s natural talent for visual storytelling and his creative use of props,” said Gang.
“Uprising” also offers audiences a fresh look at Gang’s swordsmanship skills, which are essential to the character of Cheon-young. One intense scene shows Cheon-young, bleeding, with a sword gripped between his teeth as he threatens his young master, saying, “I’m going to get revenge on your family.” Gang shared, “In that scene, I wanted to show the depth of Cheon-young’s grudge and control over his opponent. I worked closely with the director on makeup, hair, and costume to capture Cheon-young’s essence.”
For Park Jung-min, who plays Jong-ryeo, “Uprising” is also a first, marking his debut in a period film. “There’s something powerful about wearing period makeup and costumes,” Park said in a separate interview on October 1. “I focused on presenting a different side of myself, trying new outfits and hairstyles to bring Jong-ryeo to life.”
The unique bond between Cheon-young and Jong-ryeo has led some audiences to interpret the film as a “bromance,” a perspective welcomed by Park. “It’s great when the audience perceives something beyond what’s on screen,” he said. “Even in the swordsmanship scenes, there’s an emotional element. Each move reflects Jong-ryeo’s low self-esteem and his conflicted feelings of admiration and resentment towards Cheon-young, who excels in everything.”
“Uprising” presents new challenges and transformative roles for both Gang Dong-won and Park Jung-min, bringing fresh perspectives to their established talents through a vivid retelling of history.
