|
|
| The
English subtitle of this film is "Brotherhood of War." This can have
a variety of meanings. Certainly it refers to the two brothers. It
can also refer to the comradeship that binds those who fight together.
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. |
(2004) Film Review by Darrel Manson |
| This
page was created on October 20, 2004
This page was last updated on
December 11, 2004
—Review by Darrel Manson
—Trailers, Photos
—Spiritual Connections
—Blog
with Darrel Manson
Dial up modems will take a few moments |
| CREDITS |
| Directed
by Je-gyu Kang
Writing
credits: Je-gyu Kang
Cast
(in credits order)
Dong-Kun Jang .... Jin-tae
Bin Won .... Jin-seok
Eun-ju Lee .... Young-shin
Hyeong-jin Kong
Yeong-ran Lee
Yun-hie Jo
Doo-hong Jung
Produced
by Seong-hun Lee
Original Music by Dong-jun Lee
Cinematography by Kyung-Pyo Hong
Film Editing by Kyeong-hie Choi
MPAA: Rated R for strong graphic
sequences of war violence.
Runtime: South Korea:140 min / USA:140 min
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM,
and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG
|
| TRAILERS
AND CLIPS |
| —Trailers,
Photos |
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|
| SYNOPSIS
|
| "Taegukgi"
is the story of two brothers who are unwillingly drafted into the
South Korean army following the outbreak of the Korean War in June
1950. The older brother (Dong-gun) strives to protect his younger
brother (Bin) on the battlefield while struggling to find a way to
have him discharged so he can return to their village and care for
the family they left behind. However, as the war progresses, the horror
and violence they witness begin to take its toll on each man and sever
their bonds as brothers and soldiers. Featuring large-scale battle
sequences and an intimate and complex look at the social consequences
of the Korean War on its country and people, "Taegukgi"
offers a unique perspective on "The Forgotten War", which
permanently divided a nation and turned friends --and families-- into |
 Review
by
DARREL MANSON
Pastor,
Artesia Christian Church, Artesia, CA
http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch01198
Darrel has an incredible love and interest in the cinematic arts.
His reviews usually include independent and significantly important
film. |
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.
—Blog
with Darrel Manson
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| COMMENT
ON THIS FILM |
| —Blog
with Darrel Manson
Your
Private Comments.
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within two weeks.
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