The King’s Body by João Pedro RODRIGUES is a film about the first king of Portugal, Afonso HENRIQUES. Even if this film tells about the king of somewhat unfamiliar foreign country to us, it intrigues me because of its unique format. When the film starts, muscular men appear on the green screen in order. These men are in different age group from twenties to forties and their occupations are also very multifarious. While men with a mere modicum of clothing are reading related stories to the legend of King Afonso I, the footage related to the king is shown on the screen behind their back. Rulers have used the stories of King Afonso I as a guise for legitimizing their rule so far. In the process, the legend of King Afonso I is sometimes recreated in accordance with their purposes. The King’s Body verifies the truth of distorted and exaggerated legend with cold eyes. In the meantime, hidden or overinflated truth is exposed in nudity. (KIM Yi-seok)