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The brotherhood of Jin-Tae [actor: Jang Dong-Gun] and Jin-Seok [actor: Won Bin] is the heartbeat of this movie... Jin-Tae, who earns money as a shoe-shine boy, is a very responsible and dedicated older brother to Jin-Seok; a loving and thoughtful son to their mother; and a protective lover to Young-shin Kim (his fiancee) and her little sisters. Like their mute mother, Jin-Tae works literally day and night in order to keep the family financially afloat and to send his younger brother to school (Jin-Seok dreams of finishing a degree). Jin-Tae liberally gives to Jin-Seok what he wishes because he wanted him to finish studies and become the instrument to emancipate their family from poverty.
This very admirable and compassionate family set-up will be tragically shattered when the Korean war breaks out (1950-1953). North Korea, the stronghold of the "commies," invades South Korea (a democratic country). In a sudden and almost desperate defensive reaction, the government will enlist all men, 18 years old and above, to the roll of soldiers who will fight.
Unwillingly, the two brothers will be ferried to the camps, leaving Young-shin and her siblings, and their mother helpless in the town.
Photo taken from http://twitchfilm.net/pics/taegukgi.jpg
While in the battlefield, the memories of home (with all the happy moments together) keep flashing back in the minds of these "brothers-in-arms." With the lonesome killing fields as witness, and in the midst of fierce fighting, Jin-Tae will exert unprecedented effort and exhaust all available ways to protect his brother from imminent danger. Hoping to eventually send Jin-Seok home to take care of their family, he volunteers for exceedingly dangerous missions. Through this, and the medal of valor he would get, he will be allowed to petition for the relief of his brother from military duty.
Jin-Seok, however, misreads the actuations of his brother. He concludes that he was aiming for personal fame and honor. This situation will cause a rift to start between the two... and this leads to a fatal end.
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The setting of the movie (Korean War) is an honest-to-goodness depiction of the horrors of war. From countries and peoples dragged into fiery friction, to the brutal casualties that fighting causes. From the plight of the displaced (refugees), to the slaughter of the innocent. From families bitterly torn apart, to relationships that are crushed into fine debris. From the tears that eloquently elaborate the sorrows of the soul, to the blood that vividly speak of the pain (physical, emotional) inflicted on the people. All for real, I am convinced.
Just as things change, the war also transforms the brothers into the sort-of unexpected persons they would become. The barbaric nature of the war turns things upside-down. Jin-Tae will defect to the commies' camp as Jin-Seok returns home. Eventually, they will fight against each other in an almost fatal duel. In this fight, the brothers share a common line of thought: "love, family, and blood are the strongest motivators for man to fight... even if it means losing his life."
Photo taken from http://twitchfilm.net/pics/TaeGukGi.jpg
This makes the movie a masterpiece of peace education, a champion of promoting the fundamental values of understanding and respect, of tolerance and accommodation. It is a celebration of valor and honor, of fidelity and true love, of filial values and fraternity, of family and brotherhood.
Taegukgi is a heart-piercing action-drama delivered by an exceptionally gifted cast and an excellent director (Kan Je-Gyu). I am confident to say that this is one of the best war movies (if not the best so far) I have ever seen. Unsolicited advice: be sure that you have your handkies when you watch this movie! hehehehe...
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