Esteemed filmmaker Park Chan-wook brings complex, dynamic storytelling to a film of friendship and war with Uprising. The Korean legend, who serves as producer and co-writer on the film, has garnered global acclaim for his stylistic, thrilling works, including Decision to Leave (2022), The Handmaiden (2016), and Oldboy (2003), a stunning revenge tale considered by many to be one of the greatest films of this century. Park’s captivating storytelling once again shines in Uprising, expanding a story of two childhood friends turned adversaries to explore the ironies of the class system.  

Uprising starts with the story of two boys, Cheon-yeong (Gang Dong-won) and Jong-ryeo (Decision to Leave’s Park Jeong-min). Cheon-yeong becomes a slave to Jong-ryeo’s family, which has high military status under King Seonjo (Cha Seung-won) of Joseon, a Korean kingdom that lasted from the late 1300s to the beginning of the twentieth century. The two children form a young friendship that is put to the test as they grow older and their paths diverge, becoming adversaries when war with Japan and internal revolution take hold of their country. Directed by Kim Sang-man (Midnight FM), the story unfurls as the men’s ideals clash.