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Heroism
and brotherhood featured in Korean War
film
MOVIE
REVIEW
By
Kara Ogushi
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing writer
They say love will make you do crazy things. This belief led Jin-Tae to try
to save his younger brother, Jin-Seok, when he is drafted against his will
into fighting for South Korea in the Korean War. This incredible film from
Korea, called “Tae Guk Gi-The Brotherhood of War,” written and
directed by Kang Je-gyu, has recently been released in theaters and is taking
the U.S. by storm.
In the style of “Saving Private Ryan” and “The Enemy at The
Gates,” Kang Je-gyu takes you even deeper into the tragedies of war by
showing them to you from the eyes of two brothers. We follow the brothers’ relationship
from its humble beginnings where Jin-Tae shines shoes to send his brother to
the university to a point where Jin-Seok despises his brother’s heroic
acts and even calls him a murderer for what he has done.
It’s so painful to see Jin-Tae go on suicide mission after suicide mission
to obtain the Medal of Honor so he can send his little brother home. Because
their family does not have money or influence, it is the only hope they have
to go home. With each mission Jin Seok grows to despise his brother more and
more.
But sadly neither brother is prepared for the true horrors of the Korean War.
Jin-Tae is almost pushed to the edge when his fiance is about to be executed
by the South Korean government for joining the communist North Korean party.
She unwittingly signed a contract declaring she supported the communist party
in order to get food for her family at one of the many communist rallies.
She tries to defend herself explaining the South Korean government was not
feeding its people but the soldiers would not listen. Though Jin-Tae fought
bravely for her, his fiance is shot and she dies in his arms, then, as he is
dragged away, her body is tossed into a mass grave with the other executed
refugees.
These are just a few of the heartbreaking scenes slowly leading the two brothers
down a dangerous and deadly path. The longer they are in the war, the more
anger and hatred builds up between the brothers. Sadly, Jin-Tae’s motives
are seen as glory-hungry and murderous to his little brother who fails to see
the gift his brother was trying to give him.
This film runs so smoothly you will forget you are reading the subtitles and
will immerse yourself in the film. The action is so intense and the story is
so strong, that even if you started watching the film in the middle you would
still be able to follow along and you may even find yourself misty-eyed.
The film will make you feel as if you too are being bombarded with scene after
scene of tragedy and sacrifice just like a soldier.
It is an amazing film if you are a war movie buff. Or, if you’ve never
seen a war movie in your life, this film will open your eyes to war in another
light.
The images are intense and breathtaking; you feel as if you are running alongside
the brothers as they battle the North Koreans and their own desires to give
into the senselessness of war. |
