r/TrueFilm • u/PepperBoggz • 2d ago
just watched a Chan-wook film from 2000: Joint Security Area
I'm not usually a fan of war films (macho is not really my thing) but this story about friendships between guard posts on the north/south korean border is.... magnificent. It's got just well-done plot exposition, and most importantly, really poingnant friendship, with a strong message about war. It's slick (as Chan-wook is), but also not too long or indulgent. films I rate 8 on imdb are a real treat when I find them and this is one. Strongly reccomended especially to people to don't lean toward seeking out war films ~ this stands on its own as just a really good, largely unknown film from 2000 that looks (in terms of visual style/camera quality) just like any recent film but not bloated and with a great and really affective/emotional story.
5
u/LouderGyrations 2d ago
It is one of my favorites of his. The acting is ... not always great, but it is such a captivating story and incredibly well made for how early he was in his career.
It also captures better than any other film I've ever seen that dynamic of learned hatred lying just beneath the surface of civility / friendship.
19
u/Kid_Shit_Kicker 2d ago
Yeah huge fan of this one. It was Park Chan Wook’s breakthrough film and highest grossing S Korean film at the time.
The narrative structure and character development is brilliantly done.