Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)

When two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it will help shield the younger from battle.

Director:

Je-kyu Kang (as Je-gyu Kang)

Writers:

Richard Epcar, Ji-hoon Han

Stars:

Jang Dong-Gun, Won Bin, Eun-ju Lee

13 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jang Dong-Gun	...	Jin-tae Lee
Won Bin	...	Jin-seok Lee
Eun-ju Lee	...	Young-shin Kim
Hyeong-jin Kong	...	Yong-man
Yeong-ran Lee	...	Mother Lee
Kil-kang Ahn	...	Sergeant Huh (as Kil-Kang Ahn)
Jin Jung	...	Sergeant Lim
Jae-hyeong Jeon	...	Yong-seok
Min-ho Jang	...	Old Jin-seok Lee
Yun-hie Jo	...	Jin-seok Lee's grandaughter
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jang-Su Bae	...	Noodles guest
Won-hee Cho
Do-Hee Go	...	Young-Guk Kim
Taek-ha Hwang	...	Platoon Soldier #2
Dae-Hoon Jeong

Storyline

In 1950, in South Korea, shoe-shiner Jin-tae Lee and his 18-year-old old student brother, Jin-seok Lee, form a poor but happy family with their mother, Jin-tae's fiancé Young-shin Kim, and her young sisters. Jin-tae and his mother are tough workers, who sacrifice themselves to send Jin-seok to the university. When North Korea invades the South, the family escapes to a relative's house in the country, but along their journey, Jin-seok is forced to join the army to fight in the front, and Jin-tae enlists too to protect his young brother. The commander promises Jin-tae that if he gets a medal he would release his brother, and Jin-tae becomes the braver soldier in the company. Along the bloody war between brothers, the relationship of Jin-seok with his older brother deteriorates leading to a dramatic and tragic end.

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Plot Keywords:

korean war | 1950s | frontline | firearm | south korean soldier | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic sequences of war violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of four South Korean movies screened at the 2006 International Fajr Film Festival in Iran.

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Goofs

A massive assault force of hundreds of South Korean soldiers, well-supported by aircraft, artillery and armor, is easily defeated by a numerically inferior North Korean force without any support of its own.

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Quotes

Jin-tae: Look at me. Trust me.

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Alternate Versions

Also released in a directors cut running 148min.8min longer than the US and original version

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Connections

References Saving Private Ryan (1998)

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Soundtracks

Oppaneun punggakjaengi
Written by Kim Song Kyu and Park Yeong Ho
Sung by Park Hyang Rim.

User Reviews

Harry's Top Ten Movies of 2004 - No.1

That's what this movie is. Pure hell. If you're that person that screamed in agony when Shakespeare IN LOVE beat SAVING PRIVATE RYAN – find this movie and realize just how much better TAE GUK GI: BROTHERHOOD OF WAR is than just about every war film ever made. A story of two brothers during the Korean War. The movie is spectacle larger than any film made this year, but as intimate as a tale of brothers could ever be. I grew up with Sam Fuller, Peckinpah, Spielberg and the war films of Hollywood. This thing… it's just amazing. I went to see it on "Can Day" here in Austin… where you donate 3 cans of food to the homeless and see any movie you want. I saw 4 films that day, this was the 3rd – and it just completely blew me away. I instantly got the Korean Box Set – and have seen it many times since… Unfortunately – the day I saw it in the theater was the last day it was showing in Austin. A BRILLIANT FILM. The film will just shake you to the core. The South Koreans are making brutally brilliant films. Amazing. Should be re-released with a major advertising campaign. The trailers you could cut of this thing… my god. Stunning film and my pick for the best film of 2004 ! Check the site - http://aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19054

Details

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Release Date:

24 September 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War

Filming Locations:

A-San City, South Korea

Box Office

Budget:

$12,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$260,135, 5 September 2004

Gross USA:

$1,111,061

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$76,287,982

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kang Je-Kyu Film Co. Ltd., KD Media, KTB Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min 148 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1