JOINT SECURITY AREA: KNOW THY ENEMY

 

You may be tired of hearing it but I’ll say it again anyway. One of the joys of movies coming out on disc is the availability of seeing films you might otherwise have no access to. This is particularly true when it comes to foreign films. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those people who think all foreign films are artistic masterpieces that American directors should follow. But it’s a nice to experience the films from other countries and other viewpoints on various topics.

One such film is JOINT SECURITY AREA, a Korean film directed by Park Chan-Wook in 2000. Famous for his trilogy that included SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE, OLDBOY and LADY VENGEANCE, this film was made just before that series began. The film focuses on the situation in North and South Korea and gives us a look at it from a Korean perspective. 

In the de-militarized zone (DMZ) Joint Security Area at a North Korean border house just across the bridge of no return two North Korean officers have been killed. Sergeant Lee Soo-hyeok (Lee Byung-hun) is a South Korean soldier who crosses the bridge wounded as gunfire erupts from both sides. Why he was there and how he may or may not have been involved in the deaths of the two other soldiers is the crux of the film.

The thin line between the two countries is fragile at best and what transpires may have a major effect on their situation. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Committee sends in an investigator, a Swiss Army Major named Sophie Lee (Lee Young-ae). As she investigates things don’t add up. In particular the fact that the story Sgt. Lee has told her doesn’t match with that of North Korean Sergeant Oh Kyeong-pil (Song Kang-ho).

Sgt. Lee confesses to shooting both dead victims after he’d been captured and began an escape. Sgt. Oh claims that he barged in and began shooting everyone before escaping. In the melee that follows the number of bullets found in the various bodies and location don’t add up to the same number fired. One is missing.

In the course of the investigation another witness is called in, Private First Class Nam Sung-shik (Kim Tae-woo). He seems troubled with the line of questioning and is pressured by those conducting his interview. So much so that he jumps out of the window of the interrogation room in an attempt to commit suicide.

As the film and investigation move forward we learn more about what was going on at this border location. A set of circumstances set into motion a friendship between the guards on both sides, led by both sergeants. It is a gradual friendship that transpires over time. But a major event takes place that led to the shooting. Just who the real guilty part is isn’t revealed until the end.

It is rare, if ever, that we as an audience are allowed to see or hear much about the border between North and South Korea. With the exception of the film/series M*A*S*H and President Trump’s recent visit to that border I can’t think of much we’ve heard about it. This film presents us a picture of two groups of people literally at each other’s door who discover they may have more in common than they realized. It is only the bureaucracy of each that interferes with more people discovering this.

The movie is amazing and highly entertaining. I found myself caught up in the story and never once noticed that it was sub-titled or felt the need to grab the remote in search of the fast forward button. The movie is as much about people and friendship as it is about the problems of both countries. That draws you into the more human aspects of the story.

Wook is an amazing director as is seen not just here but in all of his films. Here he works with a more subtle story than I was used to seeing from him. The development of the plot taking it’s time to unwind works well with this story. The back and forth from one version to the other also helps present underlying issues surrounding that story. The end result is a wonderfully dramatic film that most will enjoy if they only give it the chance.

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