Director: Park Chan-wook
Notable Cast: Lee Yeong-ae, Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho,
Kim Tae-woo, Shin Ha-kyun, Herbert Ulrich, Christoph Hofrichter
Park Chan-wook has become synonymous with the bright streak
of artistic talent coming out of South Korea since the mid-90s. Even though
Bong Joon-ho is the one that might be a more household name since he swept his
Oscars last year, it was Park Chan-wook that was previously the name to know
when it came bold cinema from the market. What makes the director’s career so
interesting is that he has increasingly moved further from the mainstream with
his films, despite attempts to break out in the international market with
English language films like Stoker. And while his third film, Joint
Security Area, might be one of his most mainstream ones, it’s a flick that
doesn’t shy away from the style and themes that made Park Chan-wook such an
iconic artist. With its most recent Blu Ray release, it was only the perfect
time to revisit the dark military thriller to see if the film holds up.