"Wills are for dying people. You've got to be strong"
Billed as "the South Korean Saving Private Ryan," this film is considered a great war film (on par with it's American counterpart). While this film will affect you on multiple layers, it is helpful to have at least a slight understanding of the history/culture of Korea.
This is the story of two brothers. In Korea the most valuable relationship is the patra lineage: the relationships between men (in this case, brothers). Jin-tae (Jang) is the oldest and spends his days working as a cobbler to support his family and allow his younger brother, Jin-seok (Won) to go to school. Jin-seok is the families hope and future. The brothers enjoy life until the Korean War. Both are drafted into the military which causes their patra lineage to fall into conflict (how will the family live on if both are killed?).
Unlike most war films which focus on the greater good achieved by the war, this film focuses on the relationships, specifically between the brothers. They interact with other soldiers, but these men fade into the background and while you may remember their stories, you won't remember their names. Ultimately the film questions why Korea was at war, aren't both North & South Korea the same people? (it is difficult to distinguish between the two sides). The relationship between the brothers is more important to them than protecting their nation. Their enemy is the depersonalized masses (the Japanese).
Notice the low camera angles (waist level or lower) which presents an intimate perspective. These angles are situated within a 90 degree axis: the shots are within 30 degrees of each other Also, pay attention to the placement of characters in each shot: the brothers will be in the main focus of the shot while the other characters (especially the women) are in the peripherals of the shot (never seen in a frontal perspective, always side or back).
--: the camera angles and cinematography is amazing, the battle scenes are gory, and the emotions are raw...you will feel drained by the end of the film
RECOMMENDED: this is an excellent film, although it may be difficult to find, it is completely worth while
This is the story of two brothers. In Korea the most valuable relationship is the patra lineage: the relationships between men (in this case, brothers). Jin-tae (Jang) is the oldest and spends his days working as a cobbler to support his family and allow his younger brother, Jin-seok (Won) to go to school. Jin-seok is the families hope and future. The brothers enjoy life until the Korean War. Both are drafted into the military which causes their patra lineage to fall into conflict (how will the family live on if both are killed?).
Unlike most war films which focus on the greater good achieved by the war, this film focuses on the relationships, specifically between the brothers. They interact with other soldiers, but these men fade into the background and while you may remember their stories, you won't remember their names. Ultimately the film questions why Korea was at war, aren't both North & South Korea the same people? (it is difficult to distinguish between the two sides). The relationship between the brothers is more important to them than protecting their nation. Their enemy is the depersonalized masses (the Japanese).
Notice the low camera angles (waist level or lower) which presents an intimate perspective. These angles are situated within a 90 degree axis: the shots are within 30 degrees of each other Also, pay attention to the placement of characters in each shot: the brothers will be in the main focus of the shot while the other characters (especially the women) are in the peripherals of the shot (never seen in a frontal perspective, always side or back).
--: the camera angles and cinematography is amazing, the battle scenes are gory, and the emotions are raw...you will feel drained by the end of the film
RECOMMENDED: this is an excellent film, although it may be difficult to find, it is completely worth while
Rating: R for strong graphic sequences of war violence
Director: Je-gyu Kang
Starring: Dong-Kun Jang as Jin-tae
Bin Won as Jin-seok
Eun-ju Lee as Young-shin
Hyeong-jin Kong as Yong-man
Yeong-ran Lee as Mother
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