Fenland Woman: Taeguki - A Story Of Brotherhood
"I think that Westerners who know nothing about Korea will find that 'Taeguki' gives a human face to the country and its people. It won’t be so easy to carelessly propose another Korean war with the story of Jin-seok and Jin-tae in mind.''
Claire is moved by a South Korean war film.
Last night I watched a 2004 South Korean film called “Taeguki” on DVD. When I woke up this morning I was still thinking about it.
The film tells the story of two brothers drafted into the Korean War at its outbreak in 1950. Before the war Jin-tae is a shoeshine boy who dreams of becoming a master shoemaker. He sacrifices his academic education so that his younger brother, 18-year-old Jin-seok, can go to college. When Jin-seok is drafted by the South Korean army Jin-tae attempts to rescue him and is also forced to become a soldier.
From the outset Jin-tae is determined to send his brother home. When his commander tells him that he can achieve this by winning the medal of honour, he volunteers for every dangerous mission available. His actions change him and the nature of his relationship with his brother.
“Taeguki” is primarily about the bond between the two brothers but it also a well crafted war film. When I watched the battle scenes I couldn’t help thinking about family members who fought in the First World War.
I don’t want to reveal anything else about the plot because the suspense is all part of the enjoyment of the film. It’s an emotionally passionate piece that, in my opinion, is much better than “Saving Private Ryan” and many other Hollywood productions.
When North Korea tested a nuclear bomb last autumn, some hawkish internet users in the West were suggesting that it would be a good idea to bomb Pyongyang. I think the only reason they were so comfortable saying this is that Korea seemed like a faraway country in a storybook to them. They couldn’t appreciate that millions of people are trying to raise families and get on with their lives on this little Asian peninsula.
I think that Westerners who know nothing about Korea will find that “Taeguki” gives a human face to the country and its people. It won’t be so easy to carelessly propose another Korean war with the story of Jin-seok and Jin-tae in mind.
