Can the harsh realities of war destroy the ties of true brotherhood? This is the extraordinary tale of two brothers during the Korean War whose relationship is put to the test…
Titled after the South Korean flag, Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War has become Korea's highest-grossing film of all time. As Korea's most expensive film ($12.8 million), Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War has been described as the Korean version of American blockbuster hits such as Saving Private Ryan and Pearl Harbor, with its excellently choreographed battle scenes and graphics. Featuring major Asian film stars as Jang Dong-Gun and Won Bin and the direction of the great Kang Je-Gyu--otherwise known as “Asia's Steven Spielberg,” Tae Guk Gi has hit Asia and now the United States by storm.
This historical film is an epic about two brothers during the Korean War. Jin-tae (Jang Dong-Gun) is the protective older brother who tries to support his family as a shoe shiner while Jin-seok (Won Bin) is the fragile younger brother who's also a student trying to get into college. When war breaks out in 1950, Jin-seok is drafted into the South Korean army to fight the North. So in order to protect his younger brother, Jin-tae tries to prove himself a hero by winning medals and fame, in the hopes of sending Jin-seok safely back home. As a result, Jin-tae risks his own life by volunteering for dangerous missions, such as setting mines and
attacking enemy bunkers. Yet ironically, the brutalities of war and greedy desire for power change Jin-tae as he starts to enjoy and gloat in the glory that comes with being a hero. This leads to conflict between the two brothers as Jin-seok questions his brother's morals and motives.
This war film focuses not only on the harsh physical realities of war, but also the emotional wars that arise as a result. Despite the violent depictions of war and some strong language, Tae Guk Gi portrays how war can tear not only a nation, but families and even individuals apart. This is definitely a must-see film that will touch your heart. In the midst of the splattering guts and bodies drenched with blood lie the important sentiments of what true brotherly love and courage are all about.
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http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/taegukgi/