Joint Security Area, directed by Chan-wook Park, is a part-thriller, part-mystery, part-action film that keeps the viewer on the edge of his or her seat while trying to figure out what the heck happened during the events that transpired during that night in October. At first, the viewer is presented with a confusing jumble of stories that both sides of the divide are sticking to. The South says that the North kidnapped one of their Sergeants while the North says the South sent an unprovoked attack. It’s up to a female agent from the neutral country of Switzerland to figure it all out. Park then uses a really effective technique where he slowly reveals the sequence of events that lead up to the shootout between the two forces.
The movie is undoubtedly Korean as the characters constantly refer to the Americans as ‘devils’ and ‘bastards’. There are also many scenes with traditional Korean singers in the background when the four friends were meeting. The fact that the entire movie took place on the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea may lead the viewer to believe that this is a local film only. However, there are many American influences present such as the M16A4’s used by the South Korean army and the standard issue cigarette lighter. Also, the Swiss soldiers leading the investigation throw in their own flavor from Switzerland to the movie. This is what leads me to my final conclusion that JSA is indeed an international film.
One thing that most directors have been trying to do in recent years is explore the experiences of a soldier outside of battle. JSA does just that. Instead of focusing on combat, Park shows that it is possible for the North and South Koreans to live together without shooting each other in the back. But, in contrast, he also shows that a peace between the two nations will not come anytime soon. The strength of the bond between the four men was such that they were willing to kill themselves to hide the truth. But in the end, nothing had changed in the overall conflict between the eternal North and South. With the future in question, Park ends the movie with a picture, a stark contrast to the moving film that shows all four men playing their part in the lie that binds them tightly to one another.
-Chris Schreiber
Your point is solid as to why "J.S.A." is a truly international film. The American, Swiss, and Korean aspects to the film cause for serious culture shock when thrown together. The fact that the film was made by a Korean director obviously causes a certain bias toward the Korean side of the film, and thus the American and Swiss points of view are both portrayed negatively throughout the movie. Park's portrayal is obviously attempting to pass the blame for the constant war between the Koreas while still maintaining that the conflict between the North and South is a self-defeating one that is baseless and without point or merit.
ReplyDeleteYou say that due to the presence of American lighters and guns, and the uniqueness of the Swiss characters that it makes it an international film. Are you sure that it isn't just trying to further show the difference in globalization between North Korea and South Korea and even between Switzerland? One of the things that make it a New Korean Cinema type film though is that it is expressing political ideas, something that previously due to government restrictions was forbidden. It seems that it is a way for the filmmaker to express a brotherhood with the divided country, while providing a view of its cultural, social, and historic similarities and differences.
ReplyDeleteI think you have given a great synopsis of the film and taken a good look at the deeper meanings and global ideas as well. There is one point, however, with which I must disagree. I do not think this film demonstrates the interminable nature of the Korean conflict as you stated in your last paragraph. Rather, I believe that the film exemplifies the huge hurdles that must be overcome in order to bring this conflict the an end. While those two ideas may be well intertwined, JSA concentrates solely on the current nature of the conflict, rather than picking through historic moments and covering large spans of time.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your assertion that the Korea portrayed in the film is influenced by global forces. These global forces, after all, are a big part of the reason that the countries are not united in the first place. I also agree that the film has a mix of global and local influences. I believe, however, that there is less of a global influence. Just because a film shows the presence of other countries does not mean that the way a film was made is as similarly influenced.
ReplyDeleteYour last sentence serves well to close the response as well as present the whole movie as "the lie that binds them together tightly." I agree that it is a local film, but the American weapon and other American gadgets shows the globalization occurring in South Korea.
ReplyDeleteYour synopsis summarizes the movie very well interesting me to want to watch the film. You said that when the characters used the words "devils" and "bastards", you implied that they HAD to be Korean. I am not a historian and cannot tell you how Koreans truly feel about Americans as a result of past events, but it is not necessarily true that Koreans have the disposition.
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