The Front Line-Go-ji-jeon (2011)

Directed by: Hun Jang | 133 minutes | drama, war | Actors: Ha-kyun Shin, Soo Go, Seung-su Ryu, Chang-Seok Ko, Je-hoon Lee, Seung-yong Ryoo, Ok-bin Kim, Seo Joon-Yeol, Min Choi, Jo Min-ho, Rok- kyeong Kim

Korea is in a bloody civil war between the communists in the north and the supporters of democracy in the south led by the UN When the war finally seems to be coming to an end, a demarcation line must be drawn, a dividing line between North and South Korea. The only problem with this is that both parties claim to control Mount Aerok and it is not clear to which party this mountain belongs.

Eun-Pyo Kang (Ha-Kyun Shin) is sent to Mount Aerok to investigate the death of a commander. In the middle of the front line, he does his research and gets to know a group of soldiers better and better. The line between good and evil quickly becomes thinner in this totally cluttered world.

‘The Front Line’ starts like so many Korean films: with the introduction of a group of rather stereotypical characters. For example, there is the experienced soldier, the recruit, the funny pants, the madman and so on. Don’t be distracted by this approach, because while this may not promise too much, the development of these characters is quite strong (albeit in a typically Korean) way. The film, which of course takes place on the frontline of the Korean War, not only shows the atrocities of this parallel struggle (then the mountain falls into the hands of one and then the other), but also has a fairly strong plot. . The unparalleled images of the battle and a strong soundtrack complete the picture. The problem with Korean films is sometimes the exaggerated sentimentality and ‘The Front Line’ is no exception. You will sometimes have a deep sigh escape your lips when a soldier takes his colleague under his wing in a very showy way and tries to protect him somewhat.

The comparison between ‘The Front Line’ and ‘The Brotherhood of War’ (2004) is easily made, if only because both films are about the Korean War, often called ‘the forgotten war’ in the Western world. . ‘The Front Line’ convincingly demonstrates the insanity of the Korean Civil War and war in general. Director Hun Jang’s ‘The Front Line’ (‘Secret Reunion’) may not be the most innovative film, but what he does, the film does excellently. The story is strongly built and thanks to the necessary flashbacks, the viewer learns more about the main characters. Combine that with a fine piece of acting from the entire cast and you can conclude that ‘The Front Line’ is definitely worth watching.