"Joint Security Area" a Story of Betrayal

"Joint Security Area" directed by Chan-wook Park Is set in the post world war II country of Korea. Since the WWII the country has been ravaged by a brutal civil war between the North (communist), and the South (Democratic). In the de-militarized zone, or joint security two Northern soldiers are killed by a Southern soldier. This sparks an investigation to be conducted by neutral nations. It is interesting that the director of this movie chose to open with a scene of the events that lead to the investigation. Most of the movie occurs in flashback from both the point of view of the Norhtern soldier and the Swiss officer investigating the matter. As the story continues we discover as the investigator does that there is more to the story than the depositions from the witnesses admit. As her investigation continues the viewer learns with the character, until at the end we know the truth. As the story is explained you also get a glimpse into the internal struggles of the soldiers. Their conflicting allegence to their country and also to their new found friends, whom are supposed to be the enemy. However loyal to their respective sides the soldiers never explain why they are so ferociously loyal. It almost seems that it is accepted by both sides that the other is evil, perpetuated by war their feelings rely on grudges and hatred rather than thought or reason. This is reflective of the sentiments of the Korean people. More men die in war and instead of resolving the problem intelligently with diplomacy they respond with hatred. It is a reoccuring cycle that was broken when these soldiers became friends and reinforned again when they died. In the end nothing is solved and the country is still on the brink of civil war.

Nine Queens and Plot Turns away from an Agatha Christie Novel

"Nine Queens" by Fabián Bielinsky, 2000, takes "Ocean's Eleven" mixed with Agatha Christie, adds its own original argentine twists, and delivers a uniquely surprising two hours of entertainment. More so than this, the film offers subtle and elegant commentary on the human ability to set aside morality for self interest. As we follow two tricksters, one novice and one teacher, we are taken through a series of ever changing events and plot developments that keep us questioning and guessing.
Some themes found in “Nine Queens” are the conflict of virtue and fortune, and the difference between honest and dishonest work. Carlos, the teacher, claims to be the best at his job because he has the backbone to do what he does. It is not enough to simply have the skill, he says, you must also have the gut. This Machiavellian virtue is contrasted by Juan, the novice, and his conscience. In one scene, Juan bets he can get a woman to willingly hand him her purse, after succeeding Carlos asks him how he did it. Juan claimed to have improvised, or in other words, relied on fortune to provide him with the circumstances that would best serve his skills. After this, Juan asks if Carlos would have taken the purse and left the woman stranded, to which Carlos returns that he is not a crook, and not a thief. He holds himself as different to everyday criminals of the streets, and yet does not count himself among the honest, such as his sister. And so Carlos is somewhere in between, and it is this ambiguity that feeds his self-assurance.
The energetic dialogue and stichomythic cinematography reinforce the quick and modern pace of the movie. With this very mobile plot, our assumptions and trust shift and turn with equal momentum. These ideas of mobility and distrust are a few of the constants that reveal the argentine veins in the film; they are familiar concepts to the nation’s history and politics.

Introduction

The purpose of this blog is to explore international film. As we are a group of young film enthusiasts we hope to use blogging as a way to explore the elements of film as well as compare and contrast films of different styles and nationalitites. Hopefully through arguement and analysis we can develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of cinema.