Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok (2000 South Korea Drama) also known as Joint Security Area
Characters: 4
Screenplay: 3
Cinematography: 2
Emotional: 4
Overall: 3.5
Excellently written and engaging emotional military drama of divided brothers. The film focuses not on war but on the regrettable situation that the once united country finds itself in. It isn't pretentious and overbearing, terms occasionally attributed by others to Park's later films, but instead relies on genuine emotional drama with real tension and a great ending. The writing of the characters and screenplay, aside from the investigators, is simply great. It's a sad yet very real situation, as we can see by the events that took place between North and South Korea on 2010-11-23.
The location that this takes place is the "Bridge of No Return", which is where prisoners-of-war were exchanged at the end of the Korean War. It is part of a 4 km-wide Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which also includes a Joint Security Area for both sides to meet. This has been the site of many incidents.
The film showcases a unique group of complex soldiers. They are all quite different, well crafted, and believable— even under the extremely stressful situation that changes who they are. Their actors do a great job in their roles, espeially Byung-hun Lee and Kang-ho Song. They are adept at displaying the depth and complexity of their characters. The other two roles were more subtle and hidden, but display their key moments with striking realism.
The characters and actors outside of the main group, in contrast, are lacking. The investigators feel out of place, both with their unconvincing characters, acting, and bad English, detracting from an otherwise great film.
The screenplay succeeds on bringing the viewer on an emotional journey of what initially appears as story of international aggression. The film manages to be uplifting yet tragic and natural way.
The movie almost leads the viewers towards the idea of a complex who-dun-it, centering around the extra bullet, and if you fall into that trap you may be disappointed. Instead, its flashbacks build upon a deeper complex emotional drama.
I only have minor criticisms about the screenplay. The buildup of the story and background a tad slow. The Major Sophie father subplot felt forced and contrived: a plot device and that leads to the worst scene by far. It's almost detracts from the notion that she could obtain Lee's trust.
The events that transpire, while moving, are probably unrealistic to occur at such a place as the Korean DMZ. This is the most substantial one that sticks out when thinking about it, but don't let it ruin the fascinating story that unfolds.
The scenes in this film are far from flashy, which lends itself well to the focus of the film. The film has a number of superbly shot scenes that succeed at showing the viewer the tense and atmospheric, the uncertain moments of the characters, and the warmth and friendliness of friendship.
This film's success is in the emotional investment it gets out of the viewers. The contrast between the descriptions of Soo-hyeok plays on expectations when we see the other sides of him. The screenplay is crafted so well for me. Just as I let the uneasiness of the situation go and slip into comforting happiness, it spins me around.
See comments with spoilers.
Characters:
Sergeant Lee showed the most depth and growth as a character. At the center of the film, his role is acted great, with a nice transition after the incident.
Sergeant Oh is the most complex character. Sarcastic, stern, yet loyal to those he lets close to him. He is also adept at manipulation, which doesn't always work in the military world.
Private Nam is the typical afraid of authority individual. When comfortable around friends, he is loud and easygoing. When authority steps in, he devalues his friendships and prioritizes his status over his feelings.
Private Jeong is a quiet, reluctant, and slow to trust kind of person. We see it in his hesitance to cross the border and how quiet he is in the beginning.
Even when he appears to let loose and trust them, he still holds the theory that it is all a bad idea and a trap in the back of his mind. We can see it in his eyes and the way he carries himself. Just when he begins to get comfortable and even wants to see them after the exchanges the North and South have exchanges, he gets confronted with the worst situation possible.
Yeong-ae Lee was unconvincing as Major Sophie, who seem a bit out of place. Relatively calm and collective, her lack of emotion contrasts harshly with the situation and other characters. Her and her comrade feel out of place, in addition to their distracting butchering of English.
The viewer can really feel the friendship build.
Screenplay:
The interviews with the South Koreans about how much of a badass Soo-hyeok is, in order to support their story, is sharply transitioned with a flashback showing him trying to be austere, until finally revealing his vulnerable side, in a wonderfully shot land mine scene. Then shows him trying sincerely trying to build up a nice friendship. This kind of contrast is well done. We find out that they share their ideas, do fun things, play cards, and even at a very poignant part of the film - exchange addresses in hopes that they can someday visit each other-- how idealistic.
The psychological trauma of Lee was handled quite well: blocking the memory that he shot Nam first out of his mind. When the truth is revealed to him and is too much to handle, he could no longer live.
The ending freeze frame is perfectly done: so much life captured in one picture.
One thing that does stick out is Sergeant Oh's actions. While his facade of unwavering loyalty to North Korea and how he deals with the commanding officer can be understood, his protection of the South Korean soldiers who have just shot his partner, Private Nam, odd under scrutiny. Logically, it makes sense, as one of his friends is gone, and now he has to protect the rest. But one of them killed him, albeit in panic. His clairvoyance in covering up is fast and too perfect, not typical of a stress reaction. Then again, he is a trained militant, but has just moved his loyalty to his new friends.
Could they really just walk across without anyone else noticing? They had to be familiar with Choi's occasional visits.
Cinematography:
Loved the scene where Jeong crosses the line the first time. Brilliantly conceived. Focusing on the feet really showed the nervousness. As it is known, the feet are where to look for sincerity.
Some other excellent scenes are the meeting between Sergeant Lee and the North Koreans, when he finds himself alone with his pants down in a field at night, and the last get together and escape scene.
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