The Front Line is Korea’s Academy Awards submission
by javabeans
After considering a number of buzz projects released in the past year, South Korea has decided on the blockbuster war thriller The Front Line by director Jang Hoon (Secret Reunion, Rough Cut) to be its pick for foreign language film at the 84th Academy Awards.
It beat out other films like Poongsan (aka Phungsan Dog) starring Yoon Kye-sang, the adorable-sounding ’80s girl-power-and-friendship movie Sunny, the Ha Jung-woo crime thriller The Yellow Sea, director Hwang Sang-soo’s The Day He Arrives, and director Im Kwon-taek’s Hanji (Scooping Up the Moonlight).
I haven’t seen The Front Line yet, but I’ve been intrigued ever since hearing about it, with its suspenseful plot about a South Korean unit during the Korean War that may possibly be fraternizing with the enemy, led by an enigmatic Go Soo. He comes into conflict with his old friend Shin Ha-kyun, a soldier sent from the capitol to investigate the suspicious death of an officer. While I’ve read some mixed reviews about the film, it seems to be a taut thriller that is entertaining but not quite as successful as another famous North-vs-South military-investigation film, JSA: Joint Security Area.
According to the Korean Film Council, Poongsan was lauded for its unusual story and intensity, but its storyline was deemed to be enough on the outside of realistic that there was concern not all viewers would appreciate it. The Front Line racked up a high score from its judges with its topic of the Korean War and the high quality of the ending. The Yellow Sea had an overall high score — it was neck in neck with The Front Line till the end — but its level of violence kept it from winning out.
This isn’t perhaps as high-profile a submission as some previous entries like Bong Joon-ho’s Mother or Cannes prize-winner Secret Sunshine or then-biggest-Korean-box-office-hit The King and the Clown, and I’m not sure how much reception it’ll get abroad, but I’m still eager to see the movie when I can get my grubby hands on it. Those brother-against-brother, horrors-of-war movies always get me right *there* in the heart.
Via Mk.co.kr
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Tags: awards, Go Soo, Shin Ha-kyun
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1 nokcha
August 26, 2011 at 9:51 AM
I have not seen any of the films mentioned, but I was really intrigued by Poongsan. Really wish they'd entered that one.
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Leona
August 26, 2011 at 9:52 AM
yup
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nokcha
August 26, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Ok, precoffee vs postcoffee. Now that I see my post (precoffee), it's completely ridiculous to comment on films I haven't yet seen; therefore, can I propose that maybe we begin a poll. We each see the films entered and then poll which ones we think suitable for the entry?
Sunny is playing at the local CGV and I'm on the hunt for the others.
I am surprised it beat out two directors that have proven to have international appeal: HSS and IKT.
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katch
August 26, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Hahaha I'm the same way about posting. I'll post, come back later after I've had my caffeine or other fix and then come back to see my post 'likewhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt
lmao
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2 Leona
August 26, 2011 at 9:51 AM
ermmmm they usually tend to give the Oscar to human dramas but it looks in the same theme like the last year's Oscar so dunno
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Ani
August 26, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Exactly what I was thinking. Or it always seems to be the case. I need to watch this side by side with Sunny and I Love You, movies that would've been my choices for the Oscars, and see what I think about all three. Than again, how'd my opinion as a viewer matter compared to movie judges for the Oscars is beyond me, other than the fact that I'm not trained for this kind of stuff, they are. Heh.
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Leona
August 26, 2011 at 1:06 PM
is not that the judges are trained, because for foreign section they are voting without knowing the culture and they can think about the movie that it represent the entire chungmuro - I think Korea tries to send her best movie, with best chances, but they forget that Academy Awards isn't about trendy (nup army thing isn't a trend) but Oscars is about voting
from oscars.org
"Foreign Language Film nominations for 2010 were determined in two phases.
The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based members, screened the 66 eligible films between mid-October and January 13. The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.
The shortlist will be winnowed down to the five nominees by specially invited committees in New York and Los Angeles. They will spend Friday, January 21, through Sunday, January 23, viewing three films each day and then casting their ballots. "
this year my country sends a movie about illegal immigration - Morgen - but I believe Poongsan would have been a bit stronger when it comes about emotions, however Romanians tend to make strong visuals and use sex&violence like Koreans use food in wed&thu dramas , but the Academy didn't like last year's If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle which was nominated for the Golden Bear and won the Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear (it was a true drama in front and behind the camera - the actor died in prison shortly after the movie started to run on festivals)
Morgen already won prizes at Locarno, Thessaloniki and Luxembourg - so I don't think it will make it in final 5 - Americans have other taste than Europeans
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Ani
August 26, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Guess who votes though: the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). And, I have to say that your statement that "Americans have other [Different(?)] taste than Europeans" is kind of untrue if you look at how The King's Speech - UK Film... if Europe still considers the UK European these days - took it home this year considering their number of nominations (12) - which is still something to brag about - and 4 wins. Also, there was quite some sex scenes in The Black Swan and it took home 5 nominations for the AA and 1 win, plus other nominations and wins at other award ceremonies.
P.S. This is really not what I meant when I said what I said though. I meant that I my opinion doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things considering the judges for [the Korean selection for] the Oscars probably have a better grasp of the movie they want to represent their country. Yeah, I just realized I didn't word that clearly.
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Ani
August 26, 2011 at 2:54 PM
I read over my comment and it sounds more sarcastic than I intended. Sorry. Plus don't read too much into it.
Ani
August 26, 2011 at 2:55 PM
*Please, not plus.
Leona
August 26, 2011 at 5:00 PM
I love well documented comments!
when it comes about Foreign Language the stakes are a lil higher because each country can send just one movie
Take a look at French, Italian, Spanish and Greek movies, I won't even tell about Russian movies - I would watch anytime a movie from the countries above- think Pedro Almodóvar for Spain, Luc Besson France, Italy- Roberto Benigni,
all of them are different in tone and genre from country to country so when we look the British movies are slightly different from Hollywood... the difference is just in tone and accent
but British movies are in English and the accent isn't really a problem to take an Oscar home and Hugh Laurie can choose to act in Dr House( for a lil Golden Globe or a lil nomination for Emmy) or can go home to make a movie with John Malkovich or another gig with Emma Thompson. To win another Oscar, Helen Mirren just has to find anpther interesting new movie to make.
if the language is English even India can take home 8 Oscars with Slumdog Millionaire
I've seen movies from all over Europe, movies made since 1949 till today-I love to bits a war movie La Bicyclette Bleue -2000 with Laetitia Casta and my fav greek actor Georges Corraface
Each country has her own culture and her own style to make a movie
I realize now that I've seen tons of them ( we have about 5 national channels and more than 15 cable channels that air anything you want from all over the world - I learned that my thing aren't Northern European movies - cinemax 1 and 2 airs them -no matter how pretty the actors are - I don't like the plots, the acting and the directing ) but the countries with neo-latin languages and Russian can do very good movies - not every time my cup of tea but pretty good - with interesting plots, strong acting and directing -
However in Europe ppl rarely pay at cinema to watch such movies( that ultimately land on television) - because they can be miss or hit -for English language movies we already have the reviews from USA or UK - think that multiplexes want their money back after running a movie
I would love to see smth like Korean cinema where they really run their own movies and they have money to produce them - a Romanian movie has a budget smaller than 800,000 Euro
Ani
August 26, 2011 at 10:26 PM
One of my favorite Spanish movies is Pan's Labyrinth and it did well at the Oscars, but to be fair to your argument it was a submission from Mexico, not Spain. I admit I too have seen my fair share of European (non-English speaking) movies, but with an Uncle from Burma in the family, I've probably seen more Asian films (from India and moving towards the East) than non-English European films.
I knew the Oscars was a big deal, but it's turning out to be more of a BIG deal than I thought. In any case, come February, good luck to everyone.
Leona
August 27, 2011 at 3:30 AM
of course when it comes about the movies we depend on our circumstance - I see them because in my country television is a big deal (more than Korean television even though with less success, but we produce variety shows rather than dramas- and the dramas produced here have South American influence - from Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina) therefore our channels air movies in 2 slots 8 PM and 10 PM.
In the beginning, in my country, Indian movies and dramas had success because of the gypsies - they are a pretty large minority here
About environment we live in- my parents love European movies and my husband loves American shows like Lost, 24, Heroes, Dr House, Grey's Anatomy - the thing is that in my house everyone marathons their obsession and if I like it I watch it too - but primarily I watch kdramas and jdramas
In my opinion Europeans tendency to shock through images damages a little - because this enters the soul just for the second we see those images but don't remain there - like Korean or Japanese movies do (errmm even Japan has her share of movies about death with another tone of shocking)
European don't go for fluffy and sweet and usually PDs don't search the prettiest image nor the landscape - they go for reality - try Volver and Manolete with Penélope Cruz - you will discover another pace, another world that sometimes looks like a dream and sometimes it is just like in your living room - even in my country the customs are different the vibe is familiar to me
3 Ani
August 26, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Interesting choice. But often enough I've noticed that sometimes the favorites at the Academy Awards when it comes to international films are ones like Sunny: quiet, upbeat, etc. Or it always seems that way. Than again there's nothing like brothers-in-arms that doesn't tug at them human heartstrings if done right. I've been missing the first half of the Oscars for the last couple of years and never really followed up on the winners that I missed out on. But good luck to the Front Line cast and crew. Than again, other things like cinematography and costume/makeup also have categories so you never know.
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4 jomo143
August 26, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Only one submission for AA foreign language films?
It never occurred to me that a non-english country had to pick its best.
Go Soo is probably beautiful as well as enigmatic here...
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YY
August 26, 2011 at 8:39 PM
If Mona Lisa were Korean and a guy, she'd be Go Soo.
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5 win
August 26, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Man, my brother and I tried watching The Yellow Sea but could NOT get thru it. I lost interest about half way into it. The storyline was interesting but the execution was slow and draggy.
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6 djinni
August 26, 2011 at 10:29 AM
i still dont understand why they didnt enter 71:into the fire. that was an amazing movie. i cried buckets.
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7 Biscuit
August 26, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Aww - I wish Sunny would have been picked. Haven't watched the Front Line but I'm sure even if the story might be lacking, anyone might forget about that when they see Go Soo. Cause honestly, y'know... there's no time to think about anything when he's onscreen.
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nk
August 26, 2011 at 2:48 PM
Yeah, my personal pick would be Sunny too only because it's gonna stand out from all the other Academy submissions (even though I haven't seen it yet). But the Academy really loves their war movies.
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8 abcfsk
August 26, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Very poor choice - stands no chance to be nominated at all. Should've gone with The Yellow Sea out of those mentioned - feel it could've been a threat.
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9 tisyamey
August 26, 2011 at 1:51 PM
darn, I guess I would be watching the Academy Awards this time around! Arrgghhh, GO SOO!!! the things you make me do!!!!! lol
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10 Noelle
August 26, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Nice. I'll root for it!
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11 conan
August 26, 2011 at 3:58 PM
I haven't watched The Front Line, but I'm worried that the topic is a little too near and dear to Korea, with its war and everything. When national history is in question, it's really hard to win over the world. Sure in Korea it's popular because people actually understand what's going on and feels emotional connection. But I doubt anyone else will. Unless it has more emphasis on the brotherhood story, I doubt this will win. I wished Sunny was chosen. Everyone has those wacky memories of being a teenager and those movies always touch the heart whoever watches it.
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12 Abbie
August 26, 2011 at 8:03 PM
This is for the American Academy Awards? I hope it wins!
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13 Jane
August 27, 2011 at 5:18 AM
Quite surprised by the choice to be honest. I saw this film when I was in Seoul a few weeks ago but I really didn't think it was that special. It was entertaining and had all the elements of a typical war film but I felt it was lacking something.....
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14 zoompi
August 27, 2011 at 6:20 AM
oh great ANOTHER south korean war flick
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15 emgphils
September 10, 2011 at 8:23 AM
Honestly, I have not yet seen the movie The Front Line but I'm so glad it was chosen because it is one of Ko Soo's movie. The thing I am sure of is that he gives his best in every project he does. Another Korean war, you ask? And I say, why not. The Korean war happened and in my opinion, its the best choice because it absolutely defines what Korea and the Korean people today. Also, even if it's a war movie, it seems it did not focus more on violence, hence its edge in being selected. Ko Soo is not a brutal person so he must have seen something good in this movie because he did it - and so did the judges. GOOD LUCK to the casts and crew of The Front Line - way to go Ko Soo!!!
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