JSA - Joint Security Area. (15.)
Directed by Park Chan-wook. 2000.
Starring Song Kang-Ho, Lee Byung-Hun, Lee Yeong-Ae, Shin Ha-Kyun, Kim Tae-Woo. In Korean with subtitles. Available on Blu-ray from Arrow Video from January 18th. 109 mins.
Back in 2000, this tale about the investigation into a shooting incident in the demilitarized zone was a reflection on nearly half a century of division in the peninsula. Seen now though, it is the first flickering of a great burst of creativity that would see South Korea become a global cinema and TV powerhouse; some of the first steps down the road that would eventually lead to the Parasite Oscar victory. JSA wasn't just the breakthrough film of Oldboy director Park Chan-wook, but the first meeting of the nation's two biggest actors Song Kang-Ho and Lee Byung-Hun.
After two North Korean border guards are killed by a South Korean soldier (Lee Byung-Hun) escaping an apparent kidnapping attempt, a Swiss lawyer (Park's future Lady Vengeance, Lee Yeong-Ae) is sent in to investigate. The film starts out like it will be a kind of Rashomon style examination into the truth of an incident but the film instead gives it to you more or less straight: extended flashback sequences reveal a friendship between soldiers on either side of the ideological divide.
The scenes of the investigation are anonymous and not particularly convincing. You really cherish the subtitles in this film because Lee Yeong-Ae's English delivery is so stilted – though no more so that the actors hired to play her Swedish and German colleagues. These parts of the film seem to be played in a straitjacket; the film only really comes alive in the flashback scenes. In contrast to the TV movie style of the rest of the film, here we see some of the rigid visual control and bold use of colour that would define Park Chan-wook's cinema. Even so, the leap in quality between this and his next film, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, is considerable.
The flashback sequences are what make the film special and are probably the reason for its continued popularity in Korea. The idea of soldiers on either side of the border striking up a friendship and refusing to accept the division that history has imposed on them is both sentimental and subversive. Soldiers sneaking over the DMZ to play cards and have a chat with their mates has the authority-snubbing cheek of an Ealing comedy. It's also completely ridiculous but the performances persuade you to go with it.
Of the two big future stars, I'd have to say Song Kang-Ho is the more effective. He has the edge because he has the stronger role – while Lee Byung-Hun's plays callow youth he is the wise old hand. It's the best role in the film but even so, he totally bosses the screen. Lee Byung-Hun has energy and charisma but Song Kang-Ho has a control that is masterly.
Specs and Extras.
• High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
• Original lossless Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks
• Optional English subtitles
• New audio commentary by writer and critic Simon Ward
• Isolated music and effects track
• Newly recorded video interview with Asian cinema expert Jasper Sharp
• The JSA Story and Making the Film, two archival featurettes on the film’s production
• About JSA, a series of archival introductions to the film by members of the cast
• Behind the scenes montage
• Opening ceremony footage
• Two music videos: Letter from a Private and Take the Power Back
• Theatrical trailer
• TV spot
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch.
Directed by Park Chan-wook. 2000.
Starring Song Kang-Ho, Lee Byung-Hun, Lee Yeong-Ae, Shin Ha-Kyun, Kim Tae-Woo. In Korean with subtitles. Available on Blu-ray from Arrow Video from January 18th. 109 mins.
Back in 2000, this tale about the investigation into a shooting incident in the demilitarized zone was a reflection on nearly half a century of division in the peninsula. Seen now though, it is the first flickering of a great burst of creativity that would see South Korea become a global cinema and TV powerhouse; some of the first steps down the road that would eventually lead to the Parasite Oscar victory. JSA wasn't just the breakthrough film of Oldboy director Park Chan-wook, but the first meeting of the nation's two biggest actors Song Kang-Ho and Lee Byung-Hun.
After two North Korean border guards are killed by a South Korean soldier (Lee Byung-Hun) escaping an apparent kidnapping attempt, a Swiss lawyer (Park's future Lady Vengeance, Lee Yeong-Ae) is sent in to investigate. The film starts out like it will be a kind of Rashomon style examination into the truth of an incident but the film instead gives it to you more or less straight: extended flashback sequences reveal a friendship between soldiers on either side of the ideological divide.
The scenes of the investigation are anonymous and not particularly convincing. You really cherish the subtitles in this film because Lee Yeong-Ae's English delivery is so stilted – though no more so that the actors hired to play her Swedish and German colleagues. These parts of the film seem to be played in a straitjacket; the film only really comes alive in the flashback scenes. In contrast to the TV movie style of the rest of the film, here we see some of the rigid visual control and bold use of colour that would define Park Chan-wook's cinema. Even so, the leap in quality between this and his next film, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, is considerable.
The flashback sequences are what make the film special and are probably the reason for its continued popularity in Korea. The idea of soldiers on either side of the border striking up a friendship and refusing to accept the division that history has imposed on them is both sentimental and subversive. Soldiers sneaking over the DMZ to play cards and have a chat with their mates has the authority-snubbing cheek of an Ealing comedy. It's also completely ridiculous but the performances persuade you to go with it.
Of the two big future stars, I'd have to say Song Kang-Ho is the more effective. He has the edge because he has the stronger role – while Lee Byung-Hun's plays callow youth he is the wise old hand. It's the best role in the film but even so, he totally bosses the screen. Lee Byung-Hun has energy and charisma but Song Kang-Ho has a control that is masterly.
Specs and Extras.
• High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
• Original lossless Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks
• Optional English subtitles
• New audio commentary by writer and critic Simon Ward
• Isolated music and effects track
• Newly recorded video interview with Asian cinema expert Jasper Sharp
• The JSA Story and Making the Film, two archival featurettes on the film’s production
• About JSA, a series of archival introductions to the film by members of the cast
• Behind the scenes montage
• Opening ceremony footage
• Two music videos: Letter from a Private and Take the Power Back
• Theatrical trailer
• TV spot
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch.
