Uprising Movie Ending Explained: Why Are Cheon Yeong and Jong-ryeo Fighting?
From October 11, 2024, the Uprising movie is available on Netflix. This is a South Korean war action film directed by Kim Sang-man, and written by Shin Cheol and Park Chan-wook. The film’s plot follows the Joseon Dynasty’s history, where a master and a servant grew up together as friends. Now, in the post-war period, they find themselves on opposite sides. But let’s see together what happens during the film and how it ends. Amid a slave rebellion and Japanese invasion, Uprising shows how the bonds of friendship are broken by betrayal and misunderstanding, as Cheon Yeong and Jong-Ryeo find themselves on opposite sides of a violent conflict.
Uprising Movie: The Story Plot
The plot of the movie Uprising on Netflix is set in the late 16th century and features Jong-Ryeo, who is the only remaining son of the powerful military family of Joseon. He grew up with his loyal servant, Cheon-Young, and they were inseparable during their childhood. Their paths diverge as adults. Cheon-Young has become a skilled swordsman; in the meantime, Japan invades Joseon, causing chaos. King Seonjo, frightened, abandons the people and flees to the north.
The locals organize themselves by creating an army of the righteous to fight against the invaders. The King, however, believes that all of them are traitors. Jong-Ryeo and Cheon-Young find themselves facing each other again, now as enemies. While Jong-Ryeo decides to support the King, Cheon-Young fights with the army of the righteous for 7 years straight. Meanwhile, the King’s house is burned down, and, upon his return, Jong-Ryeo does not know what happened to his wife and children, who died in the fire. Cheon-Young tries to save them but fails.
Uprising Movie Ending Explained: Why Are Cheon Yeong and Jong-ryeo Fighting?
Towards the end of the Uprising, Jong-Ryeo and Cheon-Young meet again after 7 years. The former believes that the old servant caused the death of his wife and children. Meanwhile, Cheon-Young begins to fight against the Japanese leader Genshin and Jong-Ryeo, as all he wants is for peace to return. During the fight, the two old friends begin to talk. Cheon-Young then has the chance to reveal to Jong-Ryeo what happened to his wife. When Genshin deals the fatal blow to Jong-Ryeo, Cheon-Young decides to take revenge and kill the former with a sword. After that, he runs to his friend to see if there is still hope.
But nothing, Jong-Ryeo is dying now. Before dying, he asks Cheon-Yeong if they are still friends after all. It is the same question the latter asked him some time ago, in a more serene situation. Uprising movie ends with their misunderstandings finally resolved, even if it is sad to witness Jong-Ryeo’s death. In addition, in the finale of the South Korean film on Netflix, before dying, Genshin takes away the treasure he had promised to Seonjo. The latter discovers, however, that the boxes are only full of salt and human body parts, especially noses. In the end, Cheon-Young and the other fighters form a community, which he calls “Beom Dong”, or “A world together”.
Why are Cheon Yeong and Jong-Ryeo Fighting?
Cheon Yeong and Jong-ryeo’s friendship falls apart due to a series of misunderstandings and deep-rooted class divides. During the slave rebellion, Jong-ryeo’s family is killed, and some soldiers falsely report that Cheon Yeong is responsible. In reality, Cheon Yeong had tried to save Jong-ryeo’s family, but Jong-ryeo’s wife preferred to die rather than accept help from a slave. Jong-ryeo, blinded by grief and anger, believes Cheon Yeong’s betrayal, leading them to a showdown.
What Betrayal Happens at the End?
The ending of Uprising reveals a dramatic twist in which a double betrayal occurs. Jong-Ryeo, Cheon Yeong’s former friend, proposes to King Seonjo a plan to defeat the rebel army of ex-slaves and capture Cheon Yeong, using the Japanese commander Kikkawa Genshin as a mercenary. However, after accomplishing his goal, Jong-ryeo betrays Genshin, ordering his soldiers to fire on the Japanese. But Genshin had prepared his betrayal, filling the soldiers’ guns with gunpowder that explodes when they try to shoot, killing them. This final twist sets up a confrontation between Jong-ryeo, Cheon Yeong, and Genshin, culminating in Jong-ryeo’s death at Genshin’s hands. Cheon Yeong, filled with rage and sadness at his friend’s betrayal, kills Genshin and becomes the only survivor of the conflict.
What Does Jong-ryeo’s Betrayal Mean in the Film?
Jong-ryeo’s betrayal of Kikkawa Genshin reflects his desperation to end the Japanese threat and his loyalty to the royal court, even at the cost of his friendship with Cheon Yeong. However, his plan backfires when Genshin anticipates his betrayal, leading to the destruction of his own soldiers and ultimately Jong-ryeo’s death.
What Does the Ending of the Uprising Mean for Cheon Yeong?
The ending of Uprising leaves Cheon Yeong as the sole survivor of the conflict, having lost his friend and killed his enemy. Shaken by the betrayals and brutality he has witnessed, Cheon Yeong decides to gather a new army of former slaves to launch a direct attack against King Seonjo, who had supported oppression and the system of slavery in Joseon. Although the film does not show the final attack against the king, it suggests that Cheon Yeong continues his fight for freedom and justice, leaving open the possibility of a sequel that explores the culmination of his revenge against the oppressive regime.
