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The King and the Clown

 The King and the Clown
type
TVTItem
 The King and the Clown
label
The King and the Clown
 The King and the Clown
page
TheKingAndTheClown
 The King and the Clown
comment
Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })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 things get worse.After competing with the self-proclaimed best clowns in Seoul they find themselves both with 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 Jang-saeng 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.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })However, court life is beset with peril as the bloodthirsty King Yeonsan, 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 Jang-saeng and Gong-gil find themselves lead down the same road they started, but the stakes are much, much higher.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 Brokeback Mountain.Watch at your own risk.
 The King and the Clown
fetched
2023-03-16T11:27:52Z
 The King and the Clown
parsed
2023-03-16T11:27:52Z
 The King and the Clown
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The King and the Clown / int_2260cfe3
type
Like Father, Like Son
 The King and the Clown / int_2260cfe3
comment
Like Father, Like Son: Inverted. The ministers love reminding the King he is not what his father was.
 The King and the Clown / int_2260cfe3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_2260cfe3
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1.0
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_2260cfe3
 The King and the Clown / int_34dcfc96
type
Kick the Dog
 The King and the Clown / int_34dcfc96
comment
Kick the Dog: Despite being The Hero, Jang-saeng gets these moments halfway through in his treatment of Gong-gil, for whom he hithertofore was The Champion. 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 Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!.
 The King and the Clown / int_34dcfc96
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1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_34dcfc96
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1.0
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_34dcfc96
 The King and the Clown / int_34dd5f3
type
La Résistance
 The King and the Clown / int_34dd5f3
comment
The mutual suicide of Gong-gil and Jang-saeng at the end goes off successfully despite a massive interruption by La Résistance.
 The King and the Clown / int_34dd5f3
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1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_34dd5f3
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1.0
 The King and the Clown
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The King and the Clown / int_34dd5f3
 The King and the Clown / int_52aa0c4a
type
The Caligula
 The King and the Clown / int_52aa0c4a
comment
The Caligula: Based on the actual ruler Yeonsan-gun of Joseon, the King of the film is ruthless and erratic in his behaviour, but also very cultured and rather sympathetic at times
 The King and the Clown / int_52aa0c4a
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1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_52aa0c4a
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 The King and the Clown
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The King and the Clown / int_52aa0c4a
 The King and the Clown / int_564c1500
type
Red String of Fate
 The King and the Clown / int_564c1500
comment
Red String of Fate: It is implied that Jang-saeng and Gong-gil will be reborn and meet again in the next life, presumably as minstrels again.
 The King and the Clown / int_564c1500
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1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_564c1500
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 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_564c1500
 The King and the Clown / int_5e4fa749
type
Crossdresser
 The King and the Clown / int_5e4fa749
comment
Crossdresser: Gong-gil always plays female roles in their shows. And he's very convincing.
 The King and the Clown / int_5e4fa749
featureApplicability
1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_5e4fa749
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 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_5e4fa749
 The King and the Clown / int_6d332aea
type
Driven to Suicide
 The King and the Clown / int_6d332aea
comment
Driven to Suicide: Gong-gil decides to end it all until it's interrupted. The mutual suicide of Gong-gil and Jang-saeng at the end goes off successfully despite a massive interruption by La Résistance.
 The King and the Clown / int_6d332aea
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 The King and the Clown / int_6d332aea
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 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_6d332aea
 The King and the Clown / int_759985ec
type
Crotch-Grab Sex Check
 The King and the Clown / int_759985ec
comment
Crotch-Grab Sex Check: Played for laughs as one of the Seoul jesters gets groped by onlookers whenever he portrays a eunuch or a woman. More seriously done with Nok-su forcefully stripping Gong-gil in a fit of jealousy.
 The King and the Clown / int_759985ec
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 The King and the Clown / int_759985ec
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1.0
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_759985ec
 The King and the Clown / int_79a0e313
type
Bolivian Army Ending
 The King and the Clown / int_79a0e313
comment
Bolivian Army Ending: The final shot features them jumping off of the tightrope as Jaeng-sang throws his fan
 The King and the Clown / int_79a0e313
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1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_79a0e313
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1.0
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_79a0e313
 The King and the Clown / int_9e5d1558
type
GallowsHumour
 The King and the Clown / int_9e5d1558
comment
Gallows Humour: After Jang-saeng is blinded, his jokes about the situation get downright morbid.
 The King and the Clown / int_9e5d1558
featureApplicability
1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_9e5d1558
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 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_9e5d1558
 The King and the Clown / int_b0a529cb
type
Extreme Doormat
 The King and the Clown / int_b0a529cb
comment
Extreme Doormat: Gong-gil. The opposite of a Satellite Character though and not lacking personality, just easy to walk all over.
 The King and the Clown / int_b0a529cb
featureApplicability
1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_b0a529cb
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 The King and the Clown
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The King and the Clown / int_b0a529cb
 The King and the Clown / int_bda2a088
type
Did They or Didn't They?
 The King and the Clown / int_bda2a088
comment
Did They or Didn't They?: Just how sexual the king actually did get with Gong-gil is rather ambiguous, as we only ever see them playing together.
 The King and the Clown / int_bda2a088
featureApplicability
1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_bda2a088
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1.0
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_bda2a088
 The King and the Clown / int_c0961831
type
Interrupted Suicide
 The King and the Clown / int_c0961831
comment
Gong-gil decides to end it all until it's interrupted.
 The King and the Clown / int_c0961831
featureApplicability
1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_c0961831
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1.0
 The King and the Clown
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The King and the Clown / int_c0961831
 The King and the Clown / int_c3286b8e
type
Uptown Girl
 The King and the Clown / int_c3286b8e
comment
Uptown Girl: 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 court intrigue than Gong-gil is.
 The King and the Clown / int_c3286b8e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_c3286b8e
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 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The King and the Clown / int_c3286b8e
 The King and the Clown / int_c868a42a
type
Freudian Excuse
 The King and the Clown / int_c868a42a
comment
Freudian Excuse: 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 Oedipus Complex, with Gong-gil taking her role in the aforementioned play and Nok-su playing "Mommy" in private.
 The King and the Clown / int_c868a42a
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 The King and the Clown / int_c868a42a
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 The King and the Clown
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The King and the Clown / int_c868a42a
 The King and the Clown / int_d2566b32
type
Hunting the Most Dangerous Game
 The King and the Clown / int_d2566b32
comment
Hunting the Most Dangerous Game: Two ministers view the mock hunt in celebration of Gong-gil's entitlement as a perfect opportunity to kill him.
 The King and the Clown / int_d2566b32
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1.0
 The King and the Clown / int_d2566b32
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 The King and the Clown
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The King and the Clown / int_d2566b32
 The King and the Clown / int_name
type
ItemName
 The King and the Clown / int_name
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 The King and the Clown / int_name
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 The King and the Clown / int_name
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 The King and the Clown
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The King and the Clown / int_name
 The King and the Clown / int_name
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The King and the Clown

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Bolivian Army Ending / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Catch the Conscience / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Costume Drama / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Crotch-Grab Sex Check / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Defeat Means Friendship / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Historical Fiction / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Job Title / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Please, Don't Leave Me / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Reincarnation Romance / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Taking the Heat / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The Caligula / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The Champion / int_62ec93b5
 The King And The Clown
seeAlso
The King and the Clown
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
The Noun and the Noun / int_62ec93b5
 The King and the Clown
hasFeature
Uptown Girl / int_62ec93b5