Chihwaseon (Drink on Women and Poetry)

Chihwaseon, the ninety fifth film by IM Kwon-taek, is the story of the renowned nineteenth century painter Jang Seung-up who is saved from a group of Drifters by Kim Byung-moon (Ahn Sung-Ki). Jang offers Kim a drawing as thanks, and as Kim examines the child’s picture he realises Jang's extraordinary potential. Years later, Kim becomes Jang’s mentor and encourages him to pursue the life of an artist.

Jang Seung-up leaves his home and wanders in pursuit of “True Art” finding love with a daughter of the Social Elite Class only to find heartbreak as they are forced apart through Catholic persecution. Jang Seung-up realises his greatest work comes from the greatest pleasures of women and drink and plunges himself into a life of  addiction and love affairs.

As Jang continues to search for artistic transcendence, he stretches the limits of traditional Korean art, rapidly becoming renowned worldwide,and one of Korea’s national legends.