Taegukgi
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—Review
—Trailers, Photos
—Spiritual Connections
The opening scene of Taegukgi shows an archeological dig of a Korean battlefield. The workers unearth corroded weapons, remnants of books, bits of personal property, and piles of bones and skulls. There is very little to identify whether the remains are of South Koreans, North Koreans or Chinese. All are placed in coffins and covered with a South Korean flag (which is called Taegukgi.) In the aftermath of war, there really is no difference between the combatants -- all their differences ended at their deaths.
Taegukgi follows two South Korean brothers conscripted to fight after the North Koreans invaded the South in 1950. Actually, the younger, Jin-Seon, was drafted. His older brother, Jin-Tae, is forced to fight after he tries to take his brother off the train that is taking the draftees away.
Jin-Seon is the hope of the family. He has made good grades in school and has the chance to go to a good university. Jin-Tae shines shoes to help make it possible for Jin-Seon to concentrate on his studies.
Jin-Tae will do anything to get his brother out of the army to fulfill the family's dreams. The plan he settles on is to win a Medal of Honor to use as leverage to arrange his brother's discharge. So Jin-Tae volunteers for every dangerous mission, and acts with great heroics and valor. Jin-Seon cannot understand why his brother is so reckless. He doesn't understand that his brother is sacrificing on his behalf. Even when he learns this, he is not willing to accept it.
We often look at the valor of soldiers and assume it grows out of a patriotism and dedication to a cause. There can be many factors in that valor -- perhaps loyalty to comrades, perhaps fame and glory. Jin-Tae’s heroism is complex. He certainly seems attracted to the recognition and promotion that comes from his actions, but his real focus is on saving his brother, whether his brother wants to be saved or not. There is nothing that will stop him from this cause. He doesn't care how many or who will be injured or killed in the process, as long as his brother can go home.
War seems like an odd setting to think about ethics. However, as we've seen in the news, right and wrong actions are often a central part of waging war. There are scenes in Taegukgi in which we see prisoners being abused. In our present setting, we are reminded of the abuses at Al Graib. It is easy to understand how the soldiers can become hardened and embittered toward the enemy. Jin-Tae and Jin-Seon argue over the costs of Jin-Tae’s actions, even at the death of a comrade that died because of what Jin-Tae was doing. It is hard to focus on what is right, when there is so much evil happening all around.
The film has tried to make the battle scenes as realistic as possible. They are absolutely frenetic, as the camera cannot be still. There is constant motion and confusion in the fighting. There is also a great deal of blood. There is no sanitation of violence here. Nor is most of the killing done at long range, rather it is face to face, often with hands. It is personal.
This War is still very much alive for Koreans. There has been a truce for the last fifty years, but still the armies face each other each day across a demilitarized zone. Families continue to be divided after all these years. In some ways this film serves to memorialize the veterans of the war, and remind them of the sacrifices made.
But in other ways this is a very universal story. It is as meaningful to the current war in Iraq as it is to the history of Korea.
The English subtitle of this film is “Brotherhood of War.� This can have a variety of meanings. Certainly it refers to the two brothers and their relationship. It can also refer to the comradeship that binds those who fight together. It could even refer to the shared suffering of both the soldiers and the families they leave behind.
On a much deeper level, it also refers to the brotherhood of those whose bones are unearthed from the battlefield decades later. In the end, even the enemy is the brother.
—Review
—Trailers, Photos
—Spiritual Connections
The opening scene of Taegukgi shows an archeological dig of a Korean battlefield. The workers unearth corroded weapons, remnants of books, bits of personal property, and piles of bones and skulls. There is very little to identify whether the remains are of South Koreans, North Koreans or Chinese. All are placed in coffins and covered with a South Korean flag (which is called Taegukgi.) In the aftermath of war, there really is no difference between the combatants -- all their differences ended at their deaths.
Taegukgi follows two South Korean brothers conscripted to fight after the North Koreans invaded the South in 1950. Actually, the younger, Jin-Seon, was drafted. His older brother, Jin-Tae, is forced to fight after he tries to take his brother off the train that is taking the draftees away.
Jin-Seon is the hope of the family. He has made good grades in school and has the chance to go to a good university. Jin-Tae shines shoes to help make it possible for Jin-Seon to concentrate on his studies.
Jin-Tae will do anything to get his brother out of the army to fulfill the family's dreams. The plan he settles on is to win a Medal of Honor to use as leverage to arrange his brother's discharge. So Jin-Tae volunteers for every dangerous mission, and acts with great heroics and valor. Jin-Seon cannot understand why his brother is so reckless. He doesn't understand that his brother is sacrificing on his behalf. Even when he learns this, he is not willing to accept it.
We often look at the valor of soldiers and assume it grows out of a patriotism and dedication to a cause. There can be many factors in that valor -- perhaps loyalty to comrades, perhaps fame and glory. Jin-Tae’s heroism is complex. He certainly seems attracted to the recognition and promotion that comes from his actions, but his real focus is on saving his brother, whether his brother wants to be saved or not. There is nothing that will stop him from this cause. He doesn't care how many or who will be injured or killed in the process, as long as his brother can go home.
War seems like an odd setting to think about ethics. However, as we've seen in the news, right and wrong actions are often a central part of waging war. There are scenes in Taegukgi in which we see prisoners being abused. In our present setting, we are reminded of the abuses at Al Graib. It is easy to understand how the soldiers can become hardened and embittered toward the enemy. Jin-Tae and Jin-Seon argue over the costs of Jin-Tae’s actions, even at the death of a comrade that died because of what Jin-Tae was doing. It is hard to focus on what is right, when there is so much evil happening all around.
The film has tried to make the battle scenes as realistic as possible. They are absolutely frenetic, as the camera cannot be still. There is constant motion and confusion in the fighting. There is also a great deal of blood. There is no sanitation of violence here. Nor is most of the killing done at long range, rather it is face to face, often with hands. It is personal.
This War is still very much alive for Koreans. There has been a truce for the last fifty years, but still the armies face each other each day across a demilitarized zone. Families continue to be divided after all these years. In some ways this film serves to memorialize the veterans of the war, and remind them of the sacrifices made.
But in other ways this is a very universal story. It is as meaningful to the current war in Iraq as it is to the history of Korea.
The English subtitle of this film is “Brotherhood of War.� This can have a variety of meanings. Certainly it refers to the two brothers and their relationship. It can also refer to the comradeship that binds those who fight together. It could even refer to the shared suffering of both the soldiers and the families they leave behind.
On a much deeper level, it also refers to the brotherhood of those whose bones are unearthed from the battlefield decades later. In the end, even the enemy is the brother.
1 Comments:
Darrell-
I just picked this film up and watched it over the course of a few days. I think your review really hits at the meaning behind this idea of "Brotherhood". On the DVD, most of the filmmakers take a totally pacifist stance, saying war just isn't worth the cost. I find that interesting, and challanging too.
Although this film was not a masterpiece, I think it is very important...I am too young to know much about the Korean War, so this film brought some of those issues to life for me. I think it is important that no one forget what happened there.
Thanks for your review!
ED
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