The Last Princess

The Last Princess

By

  • Genre: Action, Drama, History
  • Release Date: 2008-05-10
  • Runtime: 118 minutes
  • : 5.9
  • Production Company: Yomiuri Shimbun Company
  • Production Country: Japan
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5.9/10
5.9
From 17 Ratings

Description

After the Akizuku clan fall in defeat to rival clan Yamana, Princess Yuki and General Rokurota take cover in a hidden fortress, along with their clan and gold treasury. Fortuitously stumbling into the hideaways, brash young miner Takezo and his bumbling sidekick Shinhachi hatch a daring plan to help transport the gold out of enemy terrain – in exchange for a share of the stash, of course. With assassins hot in pursuit, Yuki disguises as a male and ventures into the real world with Rukurota and her peasant companions, getting her first taste of danger, toil, and budding romance with the strong-minded and willful Takezo.

Trailer

Reviews

  • CinemaSerf

    7
    By CinemaSerf
    Bertolucci’s acclaimed “Last Emperor” (1987) gave us an indication of the Japanese colonial aspirations in Manchukuo, but there aren’t so many features that tell of their similar dismantling of the Korean state. Ruled by the Joseon dynasty, their last emperor had declined to accept the Japanese annexation of his kingdom and so something toxic was added to his vermillion cordial. This left his daughter Deok-hye (Son Ye-jin) at the mercy of the manipulative counsellors who had her shipped to Japan for “integration” into the Japanese Imperial family. Used occasionally to assist their puppet-mastery, she is soon disgusted by the way her country folk are being used and abused by their new government, so determines to resist and to find some way to get back home. With the eventual defeat of Japan, her hopes of returning home don’t look so much better as the new Korean republic doesn’t want to stoke any hopes for dynastic restoration so she is still forbidden her homeland. Might she ever return home? This is a well crafted costume drama that epitomises quite well a scenario in which a spirited young woman is manoeuvred by threats against those she loves and her people whilst the Second World War rages and political ambitions remain unchecked. Son Ye-jin delivers quite powerfully and the supporting cast offer us glimpses of the megalomania and the freedom fighting that surrounded her throughout her adult lifetime. Of course there are certain historical facts underpinning this, but most of it is speculative drama and that still proves quite effective at telling of a formidable woman who could clearly have opted for a far simpler life had she played the game.

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