Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Movie: 71, into the Fire

71 is a Korean war movie, set in August 1950, depicting teenage soldiers who have volunteered to fight. At the start of the movie, teenage soldier Jung Bum is terrified as he crosses lanes and alleys which are caught up in war between the N and S Korea to carry ammunition to another part. So, early on in the movie, one thing is clear: war is bloody. When Jung Bum retreats and goes back to some sort of command centre which is the now-empty school called Pohang Girls Middle School, he finds out that all the trained adult soldiers are going to Nakdong to fight the main war. But Pohang still needs to be protected because it is a somewhat strategic point too. (I'm not sure why, not very well explained in the movie) So, as the soldiers leave, 71 fresh-faced teenagers were given the responsibility to protect Pohang. The adult commanders somehow believe Pohang will not be attacked as the main war will be at Nakdong. Well as the story goes, Pohang is indeed attacked by one arrogant N Korean commander and his troops. With some ingenuity and guts, they manage to hold on until the adult troops came to help. Don't wanna spill too much cos I want you to watch the movie!

While the movie cannot match up to Hollywood's bang and glam, it certainly makes up for its character studies. We definitely see all kinds of teenagers there, how Jung Bum secures his leadership and how they have to fight their fear before they can fight any battle. It's such an Asian film, the people who can most culturally understand this movie will be the Koreans, Japs and Chinese.

When I watched the Town, I found it culturally inaccessible. Firstly was the accent, then the slang. Many Singaporeans probably do not understand how hoods work and how drug gangsters can be really powerful. Cultural accessibility is the main reason why I'd prefer a local performance to a foreign one.

That was a sidetrack. Go watch 71, into The fire! It's a GV exclusive btw, so don't go to the wrong theatre.

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