''The Face Reader'' (; lit. "Physiognomy") is a 2013

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

n film starring

Song Kang-ho Song Kang-ho (born January 17, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Song made his film debut in ''The Day a Pig Fell into the Well'' (1996), and came to national prominence with a series of critically acclaimed performances, including ''No. 3'' (1997) ...

as the son of a disgraced noble family who goes around

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

and a ''gwansang'' expert. He is able to assess the personality, mental state and habits of a person by looking at his or her face. His talents bring him to the royal courts where he becomes involved in a power struggle between Grand Prince Suyang and general Kim Jong-seo, a high-ranking loyalist to King Munjong. It is the first installment of the Jupiter Film's three-part film project on the Korean fortune-telling traditions and was followed by two sequels, ''

The Princess and the Matchmaker ''The Princess and the Matchmaker'' is a 2018 South Korean period romantic comedy-drama film directed by Hong Chang-pyo. The film stars Shim Eun-kyung, Lee Seung-gi, Kim Sang-kyung, Yeon Woo-jin, Kang Min-hyuk, Choi Woo-shik and Jo Bok-rae. The ...

'' and '' Feng Shui'' in 2018. ''The Face Reader'' became one of the highest-grossing films in South Korea in 2013, with 9.1 million admissions. It won six awards at the 50th

Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards (), also known as the Daejong Film Awards, is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea. The Grand Bell Awards retains prestige as the oldest co ...

, including Best Film, Best Director for

Han Jae-rim Han Jae-rim (born July 14, 1975) is a South Korean film director. He directed ''Rules of Dating'' (2005), ''The Show Must Go On'' (2007), ''The Face Reader'' (2013), '' The King'' (2017), and '' Emergency Declaration'' (2021). Career Born in 19 ...

, and Best Actor for

. This film is

Lee Jong-suk Lee Jong-suk (, born 14 September 1989) is a South Korean actor and model. He debuted in 2005 as a runway model, becoming the youngest male model ever to participate in Seoul Fashion Week. Lee's breakthrough role was in ''School 2013'' (2012). ...

's only historical project to date.

Plot

Nae-gyeong, the most skillful face reader in the

dynasty, was living in seclusion when he was offered a lucrative partnership by Yeon-hong, a

gisaeng Kisaeng (Hangul: 기생, Hanja: 妓生, RR: ''Gisaeng''), also called ginyeo (Hangul: 기녀, Hanja: 妓女), were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men ...

. Nae-gyeong accepts the proposal to read the faces of Yeon-hong’s guests only to get involved in a murder case. With his face reading skills, Nae-gyeong successfully identifies the murderer and his skills are soon acknowledged by King Munjong who orders him to identify the potential traitors who threaten his reign. However, after the unexpected death of Munjong, Nae-gyeong is courted by Grand Prince Suyang who yearns to become King himself by killing the young successor

Danjong Danjong of Joseon (18 August 1441 – 17 November 1457), personal name Yi Hong-wi (Korean: 이홍위; Hanja: 李弘暐), was the sixth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was forced to abdicate by his uncle, Grand Prince Suyang (the futu ...

. Nae-gyeong decides to keep his loyalty to the late King and help Kim Jongseo protect the young King which forces him into the biggest power struggle in the history of the Joseon dynasty.

Cast

as Nae-gyeong *

Lee Jung-jae Lee Jung-jae (; born December 15, 1972) is a South Korean actor and filmmaker. Considered one of the most successful actors in South Korea, he has received various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cr ...

as Grand Prince Suyang *

Baek Yoon-sik Baek Yoon-sik (born 16 March 1947) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his characteristic near-expressionless facial acting. Career Baek Yoon-sik made his debut in 1970 on KBS TV. In the coming years he would appear in four films, taking l ...

as Kim Jongseo *

Jo Jung-suk Jo Jung-suk (born December 26, 1980) is a South Korean actor. He began his career in theater, starring in '' Spring Awakening'', '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', and the stage adaptation of ''The Harmonium in My Memory'', among many other music ...

as Paeng-heon, Nae-gyeong's brother-in-law and assistant *

as Jin-hyeong, Nae-gyeong's son *

Kim Hye-soo Kim Hye-soo (; born September 5, 1970) is a South Korean actress. Kim was one of the most popular teen stars in the 1980s and 1990s. She is known for her headstrong independence and regularly playing strong-willed, sophisticated women. Kim bega ...

as Yeon-hong *

Kim Eui-sung Kim Eui-sung (; born December 17, 1965) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his roles in films ''The Day a Pig Fell into the Well'' (1996), ''Office'' (2015), '' The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo'' (2015) and ''Train to Busan'' (2016); ...

Han Myung-hoi Han Myeong-hoe (Hangul: 한명회, Hanja: 韓明澮; 26 November 1415 – 28 November 1487) was a Korean politician and soldier during the Joseon period. He was the most trusted tactician of Grand Prince Suyang during the 1453 coup and the subs ...

*Jung Gyu-soo as Park Cheom-ji *

Chae Sang-woo Chae Sang-woo (born March 31, 1999) is a South Korean actor. He began his acting career in 2008 as a child actor, notably in ''Deep Rooted Tree'' (2011). Filmography Film *''Wretches'' (2018) - Jo Seong-woo *'' The Huntresses'' (2014) - Sa-hyun ...

*Lee Yoon-geon as Jo Sang-yong * Lee Do-yeob as Kim Seung-kyu *Yoo Sang-jae as

Hong Yun-seong General Hong Yun-seong (; 1425–7 October 1475) was a Korean Joseon Dynasty politician and soldier. He was a member of the court of King Sejo, First and Second Vice Prime minister (also called Left and Right State Councillor, respectively) from ...

*Lee Ae-rin as Hong-dan *Lee Yong-gwan as Yang-jeong *

Yoon Kyung-ho Yoon Kyung-ho (, born 5 July 1980) is a South Korean theatre, film and television actor. He debuted in 2002 in SBS's documentary drama ''Savage Age''. He came into prominence in KBS's 2017 legal drama ''Witch at Court'' and tvN's 2019 TV series ...

as Im-woon *

Seo Hyun-woo Seo Hyun-woo (born 20 November 1983) is a South Korean actor. He is well known for his role as reporter Kim Moo-jin in 2020 drama ''Flower of Evil (South Korean TV series), Flower of Evil''. Filmography Film Television series Web se ...

as Jin-moo *Lee Chang-jik as

Hwangbo In Hwangbo In (1387–10 November 1453) was a Joseon Dynasty politician who was Chief State Councillor from 1450 to 1453 during the era of King Munjong and King Danjong. As the King Danjong was 12 years old when the latter succeeded as King, Hwa ...

* Kim Tae-woo as King Munjong *

Ko Chang-seok Ko Chang-seok (born October 13, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Ko began his career on stage, performing in plays and musicals for many years before moving on to bit parts in films. He once earned his living by working on farms and in iron foundri ...

as His Excellency Choi *Kim Kang-hyeon as Suspect 3

Production

Kim Dong-hyuk's screenplay won the grand prize at the 2010 Korean Scenario Contest held by the Korean Film Council.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Face Reader, The 2013 films 2010s Korean-language films Films set in the Joseon dynasty Films set in the 1450s South Korean historical films Films directed by Han Jae-rim Showbox films 2010s South Korean films