Posted on 07/27/2006 1:45:21 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
By Kim Tae-jong Staff Reporter
South Korean president (played by Ahn Sung-ki), left, holds hands with a North Korean leader as a gesture of the cooperation between the two nations in new movie “Hanbando.”
The new movie ``Hanbando'' (the Korean Peninsula) begins with the hypothetical premise that Japan will emerge in the near future as the main opponent of the unification of North and South Korea. It also criticizes Japan's historical distortions of its rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
Although the sensitive theme appeals to Korean audiences, who know the tragic history of Japan's rule, in the end it becomes a propaganda film full of radical nationalism. It lacks cinematic development, reality, and a balanced approach to historical events and the current situation.
Directed by Kang Woo-suk, the film is set in the future as South Korea develops a close relationship with the North. The two Koreas agree to reopen a railway between the two states but, as it constructed the railway during its colonial occupation of the peninsula, Japan claims ownership of the railway.
To prove Japan has no right to the ownership, patriotic historian Choi Min-jae (played by Cho Jae-hyun), with cooperation from other progressive politicians and the President of South Korea (played by Ahn Sung-ki), seeks the authentic Great Seal of King Kojong, which the king hid. King Kojong was the 26th king of the Choson Kingdom and the first emperor of the Taehan Empire. They believe the original seal is a key to demonstrate that most contracts between Korea and Japan were either made forcibly or were faked.
The film is full of hyped emotions of all the main characters, and the development of story largely depends on too many dry instructive dialogues on historical, diplomatic and political issues. But things get worse when Kang overdoses on nationalism as he explains tragic historical events.
In the movie, he recreates the tragic moments when Queen Myongsong and King Kojong were brutally killed by Japanese. This scene is simply over-dramatized.
Nationalism has been one of the most popular motifs in local films. Of the ten most viewed films of all time, five deal with nationalistic issues: ``Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood War'' (2004), ``Welcome to Dongmakgol'' (2005), ``Silmido'' (2004), ``Swiri'' (1999) and ``Joint Security Area (JSA)'' (2000).
Generally, in such films, nationalism is explored by presenting the North as a struggling sibling or by depicting other powers such as Japan, China and United States as imperialist enemies that threaten the nation's independence.
But Kang should ask himself who would be willing to spend money and time to listen to a boring ideological lecture for two and a half hours delivered by a teacher infused with sentimental patriotism.
(South Korean President with North Korean leader, as Korean peninsula unifies)
Check out the trailer, too. Quite interesting
Can find it at this URL, for short clip.
mms://chosun.lgcdn.com/chosun/entertainment/LiveShop/cinema/coming/handandoteaser_0600605_pre.wmv
Ah, those bloody Fifth Columnists. Will they ever stop their undermining of stable societies?
the sooner the South Koreans realize the Japanese are on their side this time, the sooner Krazy Kim kicks the bucket.
I wonder (at least with many young South Koreans), that blood is thicker than economic and political simularities. Many of them fear George Bush more than Kim Jong il, and say it quite openly.
reminds me of all those hip lefties during the 1980s who thought Gorby was the one who would save them, ignoring the fact the Reagan was cleaning up.
You know, I have never understood this Korean grudge. It seems bizarre to keep it at such an intense pitch so long after, and given that Japan hasn't been a threat in 60 years.
I am from the Philippines, which was treated far worse by Japan in recent times. The Filipinos forgave the Japanese pretty quickly after the war. They felt that they had been sufficiently avenged.
Completely twisted.
Korean-Japanese Bad Blood goes waaaaaaay back long before the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1912. Believe me, this karma is in for a rough ride for the LONG HAUL.
I'll second that. Having spent 4 out of the last 7 years in South Korea, it's very, VERY apparent that the youth of South Korea believes that North Korea is their 'brother' who is only 'protecting' South Korea from the 'evil' Americans.
And they say so, quite emphatically. And they want the American military out of South Korea... but still want all the money they spend to keep coming.
There is an upside to this story. They sunk in 10 millions to produce this movie, but so it won't be able to recoup the expense from movie proceeds, according to the latest projection. It is a money loser.
It is a movie pinkos, so called 'Min-no-ppa,' made to target 'Golbin-nyun-nom', that is, empty-headed gals and guys.:) Min-no-ppa is a slur referring to a supporter of Democratic Labor Party, the unapologetic lefties. They overran movie industry in last ten years.
I would imagine "Dongamkol Village" is another one of their lamebrain fantasy movies, based on 'regarding relations with North Korea, can't we ALL just get along!!????'
Yeah, that silly movie. Also for 'Golbin-nyun-nom.':)
9:00 a.m. Get out of bed
10:00 a.m. go to the convenience store
11:00 a.m. Huge Anti American demonstration in Kwanghamun. Burn some US flags and call US troops "f***ers"
12:30 Internet cafe to play some video games and smoke cigarettes
2:00 p.m. Line up at US Embassy to get interview for student visa to the US to study at UCLA
4:00 p.m. Go see Hanbando in Myongdong
6:00 dinner (cooked by mom) followed by karaoke (noraebang) box singing with friends till 11:00 p.m.
Have you ever been on a Civil War thread?
LOL! I should add that many hit Noraebang as a third or fourth stop(first, eat at some restaurant, second have drink at Hof house, and gulp down some beer.) They go home around 2~3am, nearly passed out in a cab or in a car driven by a substitute driver on call.:)
They are also avid 'Mid,' Migook Drama, addict. They dig CSI. They love to go to U.S. and brush up their international credential, and lecture Americans about their crimes, hoping that Americans feel ashamed and repent.:)
Oh, so spoiled-rotten kids, who think they are intelligent and know everything.
Actually, they are not the worst. Those in 20's have a possibility of redeeming themselves. Those in mid 30's and early 40's, are kids in adults' body. They are old enough to move into responsible positions, but still spoiled kids.
It is a wonder with the hangovers that they can even make it to the huge anti American demonstrations at US army base gates or City Hall the next day!! :-)
Like 1/2 of Roh Mu Hyon's cabinet!!
And the others, so-called New Right, kids of the same age group supposedly on the right. People they hate most are not pinkos or reds, but what they deride as old-right. They professed to turn their ideology upside down, but they still hate old-right with the passion.
There were fiery controversy on Internet about this subject. Apparently, they tried to push out old-right with ideology offensive. They were not as successful as they expected. The old guard dug in and fight back, unlike a couple of years ago. They failed to make inroad into Hannara Party. Their candidates lost. their candidate and supporters had hissy fit for days, ranting like there would be no tomorrow. My experience from FR will help to repel them. Some of them are OK, but there are many who still harbor old reflex and preconceptions. That is, the phrase anticommunism give them nasty allergy. They also tend to think that their one time comrades who are on the political left, are mostly redeemable, and accepted into right's fold with just slap on the wrist at most, while old-right has to be eradicated or completely subjugated.
my, you could write a book on this stuff!! :-)
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