joint security area -- film screening 8/10

JSA had similar tones as some Civil War movies I have seen. Division of country, ideas of brotherhood divided and the questions of family ties vs. national duty.

I liked the cinematography and camera angles, very used to that style and presentation. It seemed to me there were many long close ups. Maybe for suspense building effect, or is this use of facial expressions in close up a characteristic Korean style.

The movie contrasted the beauty of the land with the political conflict of the day. I appreciate movies that do that. It made me feel like I visited Korea, not just the place, but also the minds of some of the people.

Fellow Colleagues, I think the film touch me on a couple different levels but none more important than the cognitive dissonance involved in any civil war. The idea that you go to war against your own countrymen is in itself an outrageous contradiction. In our own Civil War we would hear about brothers fighting against brothers, families divided and in the aftermath when you have to reconcile and go on from the there makes for a fragile proposition. Look at our own efforts (often failed) in our own Reconstruction.I was intrigued with the female justice raised in Switzerland??? and how unrelenting she was in her quest for the truth. I was waiting for a love affair to develop between her and the defendant... if this was an American film she would've had at least two romantic encounters.
In the three films we saw over last couple of weeks there seems to be a pronounced emphasis on
cinematography, and what others stated about the elongated closeups coupled with the rich outdoor scenes. Rich & Wonderful!!
T.W.C.
Rand

The musical, huh? I had a teacher who swore she was going to put the Scatlet Letter to music and call it This is my Red Letter Day. I know,groan. . JSA was a compelling movie however the suspension of belief required to ejoy it was troublesome. The soldiers meeting and never being found out, the officer not looking down the rabbit hole, the investiagtor who is half german, , , ,The setting however we very believable. And I have to say I did get a feeling of the deadly silliness we are a participant. in.

Well this seemed as good a place as any to write in my web site review. Richter Productions, the folks that made Easting the Scorpion has a respectable number of info on current Eaast Asian issues. They are neatly categorized along the left of the page under general headings and are quite good. I found this website becuse I became curious as to who did the filming of Eating the Scorpion., It's a good, and probably overlooked, resource

I think Americans often forget that both South and North Korea want to be united. Images of Evil North Korea and pitted against the Good South Korea that it almost seems as if the world has convinced itself that they cannot be united again. However, JSA shows viewers a perspective forgotten by the international world, that indeed South and North Korea would like to be united because they realize that they are the same people just on opposite borders. Great movie to show as a reminder of how those involved on this border issue view the situation.