The Key Line (Gojijeon)

A Showbox/Mediaplex presentation from the TPS Co. production in colaboration having a-Po Films. (Worldwide sales: Showbox/Mediaplex, Seoul.) Produced by Lee Woo-jung, Kim Hyun-cheol. Executive producer, You Jeong-hoon. Directed by Jang Hoon. Script, Park Sang-yeon.With: Shin '-kyun, Ko Soo, Lee Je-hoon, Ryu Seung-soo, Ko Chang-seok, David Lee, Ryoo Seung-yong, Kim Ok-vin, Cho Jin-woong. (Korean, British dialogue)Despite the fact that it doesn't give a new chapter for your war-is-hell playbook, "The Key Line" can be a solid if overlong chronicle from the South Korean unit plowing it near to the 38th parallel through the 1950-53 conflict. Engaging auds psychologically with strong figures and bittersweet moments of competitors fraternizing in the distance, South Korea's foreign-language Oscar submission grew to become one in the year's finest domestic hits, with 2.95 million admissions since its This summer time 20 release, and won the most effective prize within the national Golden Bell honours. Offshore theatrical exposure appears unlikely, nevertheless the pic's high-quality action footage bodes well for ancillary. Setting may be the month of the month of january 1953, couple of years after armistice discussions commenced. Designated to check out the potential murder from the officer by among their very own males and eliminate a suspected communist mole, military intelligence officer Kang Eun-pyo (Shin '-kyun) is distributed to Alligator Unit, that's now beneath the command of morphine-addicted Shin Il-yeong (Lee Je-hoon). A ragged squad that lacks discipline and contains arrived at wearing enemy uniforms to keep warm, Alligator includes burly joker Yang Hyo-mike (Ko Chang-seok), scared teen Nam Sang-sik (David Lee) and Kim Su-hyeok (Ko Soo), a vintage friend of Kang's whose open comments about military brass mark him since the potential traitor. The senselessness of war is symbolized by Alligator Unit's mission for capture Aerok Hill, just a little peak round the 38th parallel that's changed hands with monotonous regularity since hostilities commenced. Forever trying out then retreating within the same chunk of property, Alligator together with a like-minded quantity of North Koreans established a hidden mailbox on Aerok Hill where gifts are exchanged and letters from Northern soldiers to family people inside the South are collected and shipped without any sense of wrongdoing. These connections between authors and site visitors in the letters form a great emotional core, nevertheless the tension surrounding Kang's putative mission soon fizzles, as well as the pic's message in regards to the horror from this all becomes labored to another assault on Aerok Hill. Delivering partial compensation, suspense-wise, are sudden looks having a deadly North Korean sniper carried out with the film's sole female cast member, Kim Ok-vin. Credit scripter Park Sang-yeon and helmer Jang Hoon due to not including inside a saber rattling. Given not just token screen time, North Korean figures including broken commander Oh Gi-yeong (Ryu Seung-soo) appear being much like frustrated using the fighting their South Korean options. Thesping is ok, with no macho posturing nearby. Shin is charming since the officer whose sense of duty is thrown off balance with the stark reality he encounters at Aerok Hill, and Lee Je-hoon is memorable since the youthful commander which has attended hell as well as in the street of duty. Pictures by d.p. Kim Woo-hyung subtly vary from gritty in fight sequences to clean but never glossy in quieter moments. The comfort in the technical package is topnotch.Camera (color, HD), Kim Woo-hyung editors, Kim Sang-beom, Kim Jae-beom music, Jang Youthful-gyu, Dalparan production designer, Ryu Seong-hie costume designer, Cho Sang-kyung appear (Dolby Digital), Jeong Gwang-ho visual effects managers, Jeong Seong-jin, Heo Dong-hyeok visual effects, Digital Idea. Examined at Busan Film Festival (Korean Cinema Today), March. 13, 2011. (Also in Vancouver, Hawaii film festivals.) Running time: 133 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com