The Front Line

Set during the final days of the Korean War, filmmaker Jang Hun's South Korean film puts a visceral spin on the familiar storyline of brother against brother as well as the terrible sacrifice of soldiers in the last push for territory in the moments before hostilities end. What begins as a military investigation—when intelligence officer Kang Eun-pyo (Shin Ha-kyun) is sent to look into the mysterious death of a commanding officer—becomes an introduction to the brutal reality of life on the frontlines in a mountain region war of attrition, where battle has become a meat grinder as the two opposing forces keep retaking the same worthless patch of land on the soon-to-be finalized national border. The brutally realistic depiction of trench warfare in mid-20th century Korea—where the civil war combatants must try to square feelings of camaraderie with the enemy and unwavering commitment to battle—is what makes this pointedly anti-war film that mourns the division of Korea and the loss of life in the war so interesting. While the themes and characters remind viewers of any number of classic war movies, the grueling battle scenes are quite effective, and the frontline culture—so at odds with military discipline and command—is fascinating. One of the most successful South Korean films of all time, this is recommended. (S. Axmaker)