The Book of Fish (자산어보)

MegaboxJoongAng Plus M Presents

THE BOOK OF FISH

This film is based on the preface to "The Book of Fish" written by CHUNG Yak-jeon.

Year 1801 Joseon Dynasty

So, you are CHUNG Yak-jeon.

I suppose this exam was really just to get you to court.

You refused to enter court before. What changed your mind?

How could I serve a great king from the comfort of my own home?

King JEONGJO

There is really no need for flattery.

I can see now, the older brother is better than the younger one.

I don't mind your family's interest in "Western Learning."

But...

the others will not be so sympathetic.

Tell me, what is the most important virtue of a courtier?

Survival.

Nothing else matters than to survive.

I will be needing you and your brothers one day.

So endure, no matter what.

Do you understand?

Your wish is my command, Your Highness.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

I hereby baptize you John.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, and his Father, who art in heaven...

The three CHUNG brothers,

King SUNJO

Yak-jeon, Yak-jong, and Yak-yong

they are the root of "Evil Learning" that is corrupting our country.

Please order their persecution, and restore the spirit of our country.

It has not even been a year since my father passed...

They were my father's most trusted vassals.

Queen Dowager JEONGSUN

For this issue, I cannot agree more strongly.

They must be brought in immediately and be dealt harshly.

Bring them in. Now.

Are you on your way to arrest CHUNG Yak-jong?

Yes! How did you know?

I'm CHUNG Yak-jong!

You already arrested my two brothers. So I'm going to the Tribunal to be arrested.

Let's go together.

Hey! Get him!

Go tie him up! Quick!

To me the Catholic faith is the absolute truth.

So I will not renounce my faith just because the country bans it.

CHUNG Yak-jeon, CHUNG Yak-jong, CHUNG Yak-yong

My only regret is that my two brothers have refused to accept the faith.

Your fearless death wish is rather commendable.

But misplaced loyalty to your brothers, however, is completely despicable!

What does Yak-yong have to say?

I cannot deceive my king nor use my brother as evidence,

so death is my only choice.

How dare you! This is not the place to flaunt your loyalty between brothers!

Yak-jeon, are you here to put on a show too?

As for me!

Those indulging in "Western Learning" are my sworn enemies!

Just give me a few officers, and in 10 days,

I will root out these evil Catholics!

How can you say these things so confidently, when you can't possibly mean it?

I'm sorry, Brother. But even God wouldn't want a renegade like me,

to be a martyr in his name.

If Yak-jeon takes this stance, we can't justify killing his brother.

If we can't kill Yak-yong, a thousand executions won't even matter!

What about his nephew, HWANG?

We are ransacking every corner in the country.

Once we get HWANG, we'll have plenty of justification to kill them.

Let's behead Yak-jong first,

and exile the two others for now.

The sacred presence of Jesus Christ is disappearing for good in this country.

HWANG Sa-young

We must alert His Holiness so he can lead us back to salvation.

I heard that those guys don't even perform ancestor rites!

We have to eradicate those good for nothing evil-doers!

Do not mock me.

On judgment day, our pain will turn into joy,

and your laughter will turn into suffering.

So mark my words!

Pay no heed to the words of a Jesus freak!

Carry on.

I will not die looking down at the ground.

Let me die gazing up at the sky.

For the past 10 years, Joseon has seen so many martyrs,

including priests, and even government officials.

My Lord...!!!

If your excellency could manage to pressure our government,

with a few hundred ships and about 50 thousand soldiers and artillery...

This letter from your nephew HWANG is complete treason!

Catholicism is a pretext to hand over our country to western barbarians!

Don't you Catholics all have the same ideas?

You read all of our correspondences with HWANG!

So you know for a fact that we never agreed with him!

Also, you know that my brother Yak-yong

swore to our late King that he renounced Catholicism!

Knowing this, you still conspire to kill my brother.

What you really intend is to eradicate the late King's legacy!

You think the people won't discover your true intentions?

No, no... Why can't we kill that one guy Yak-yong?

Let's just send them into exile and into oblivion.

Yak-yong to Black Mountain Island,

and Yak-jeon to Kangjin at the tip of the country.

No.

Let's send Yak-jeon to the island.

It's clear now, that the older brother is a lot more dangerous.

350 km from land by boat, 13 km around the island

283 houses, 361 men and 344 women.

You mean, Black Mountain Island?

So strange. Why do I remember these numbers so vividly?

I only saw them once in the land-survey records during Youngjo's reign.

Maybe this is fate after all?

100 killed, 400 being exiled... Is being part of the 400 fate too?

Do not be ashamed, Brother.

Disgrace by death can never be rectified,

but as long as we live, we can always regain our honor.

Let's try to survive as long as we can.

Yuljung Tavern Naju

The country tavern lamplight

Its last gleam smothers blue

Against the rosy fingers of dawn

As I wake to the moment of adieu

Only our eyes remain alert

But our mouths have lost their purpose

We clear our throats with effort

But all they offer is the silence of sorrow.

Brother, how is it that you are smiling?

When I think of going to the island,

I feel more excited than afraid.

Black Mountain Island,

with nothing but endless sky and sea

O Brother, how will you survive

at the end of the world?

Hey! Did you catch anything?

Whoa, you bastard. It's a shitload!

That's not for you!

- Running a government ain't cheap! - You take everything, even seaweed!

What's left for us to eat then?

OK, OK.

You think we want to do this? Just following Boss' orders.

The Governor bought his way into office, so he needs to recoup his cost.

How is that our responsibility?

Fine, fine. Stop complaining. Here, take this too.

But what is the Governor doing out here? Something going on?

Someone special is arriving. Very special.

Over there, see?

Who's coming? Never seen the Governor greet anyone like this.

A special nobleman who was a high official at court.

I heard his brother also went into exile, to Kangjin.

I wonder what he did to be sent all the way here?

He's one of the famous CHUNG brothers, isn't he?

Oh, you know them too, eh?

He must be exhausted coming all this way.

Still, people from the mainland are so handsome...

I am the Governor on Black Mountain, EOM Bu-gil.

- Hello, I am... - Yes, I know who you are.

Now, listen to me carefully!

This man here is a traitor

who has come here after barely escaping the death sentence.

Death sentence? What did he do?

What's an evil-learning sinner?

You know, those traitors engaging in wicked studies from the West.

Ah, I see. He's one of those.

That's right. So, don't be too nice to him, OK?

I don't want any problems coming to my doorstep.

So y'all be extra careful, understand?

But... well... someone's gotta house him and feed him.

Who's gonna do this?

I'll host him. I'll be good company, I'm also a man of letters myself.

I've got a bunch of empty rooms too.

What about me? I just put in a brand new floor.

OK. Y'all making me cry.

I don't care who hosts... Just don't come to me for provisions!

We are so, so poor on Black Mountain Island

I barely feed myself twice a day.

I'll host him, and share provisions with the village people.

How is that for everyone?

Mrs. Gageo!

Why are you so quiet?

You got a separate studio and a farm.

- You're perfect for the job. - What on earth are you saying?

To a woman living all by herself. What if something happens?

Nothing's gonna happen.

Show him to your place. C'mon!

I'll come visit.

Make way!

Chang-dae just caught a big skate.

Don't know if you should be doing this.

What?

The Governor said don't be nice to him.

He may be a traitor to our country but he's still a guest in my house.

I see, we got a saint in our village!

Is Mrs. Gageo named after Gageo Island at the western tip of the country?

That's right. It's even farther than Black Mountain Island.

- She came a long way. - Yes, I came from afar.

But my husband hurried off to an even farther place...

This is fresh skate. Please try some.

Thank god your in-laws died quickly too.

Otherwise, you'd take care of them all this time, by yourself!

True... And if they didn't leave me that patch of farmland.

Otherwise, I'd already be...

Anyway, not sure if you like skate...

Fresh-caught skate is completely new to me.

Well, fresh skate is the real deal,