The Queen of Elegy (Original Title: 엘리지의 여왕)
The poignant biopic of a legendary musical icon. Surviving poverty, war, and family tragedy, a young girl transforms her deep-seated sorrow into a voice that healed a nation, rising to become the ultimate Queen of Elegy.
Synopsis
Mija's life falls into sudden tragedy when her father, a wholesale fruit merchant, suffers a stroke that leaves him partially paralyzed, and her mother abandons the family. Forced to drop out of school, young Mija is driven to beg from door to door just to support her elderly grandmother and her bedridden father. To make matters worse, the Korean War breaks out during her tender youth, but she manages to survive by joining a US military show band in Chuncheon.
Despite living in extreme poverty, Mija's burning passion for singing never dies. She works tirelessly as an office errand clerk by day and studies vocals at a music academy by night. Her hard work finally pays off when she is crowned the top singer in a major broadcasting station’s singing contest. Impressed by her talent, a station guitarist named Jang praises her voice and recommends she perform at a popular cabaret called "Gagopa," where her songs quickly capture the hearts of the audience. Recognizing her rising popularity, a major record company finally approaches her to record the theme song for a new movie: "The Camellia Maid"...
General Information
Director: Han Hyeong-mo
Cast: Nam Jeong-im, Park No-sik, Ju Jeung-nyeo, Lee Nak-hoon, Kim Dong-won
Genre: Musical, Drama, Biopic
Release Date: November 2, 1967
About the Real-Life Inspiration & Special Features
The Living Legend: This film dramatizes the deeply moving and arduous life story of Lee Mi-ja, the legendary national singer who earned the revered title "The Queen of Elegy" (the queen of sorrowful melodies) from the entire nation, tracing her journey from a hardships-filled childhood to superstardom.
A Unique Opening: In a rare and unique cinematic choice for the era, the real-life singer Lee Mi-ja herself appears in the film’s opening sequence to deliver a personal greeting and perform a song for the audience.
A Historic Casting Discovery: The child actress who brilliantly portrayed the young Mija in the film was none other than the future legendary K-pop diva, singer Nami. Even at that tender young age, she stole the scenes by showcasing her exceptional and mature vocal talent.
The Legendary Hit: Her iconic song The Camellia Maid (동백아가씨), released in 1964, made history in the Korean pop music industry by dominating the broadcasting charts at No. 1 for seven consecutive weeks, remaining her ultimate masterpiece.
Filming Locations
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