MovieChat Forums > Taegukgi hwinallimyeo (2004) Discussion > Built-in Irony in this movie

Built-in Irony in this movie

posted 17 years ago by daehanmin_j
2 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS

I thought that the relationship between the brothers in this movie was a literal manifestation of the absurdity of a civil war.

Specifically, I am talking about how Jin-Tae volunteers for every dangerous mission in the hopes of saving his brother, when all the while this is tearing he and his brother apart. This is evidenced by Jin-Suk's growing anger, culminating when they engage in mortal combat with each other. Of course, Jin-Tae's actions are motivated by love for his brother, but this actually makes them into enemies.

I am not articulating this as well as I would like, but did anyone else see this irony? That in a civil war, there can be no winners, as shown by Jin-Tae's bravery and self-sacrifice only serving to kill and alienate his "brother" (Jin-Suk literally, but also his fellow countrymen in a figurative sense)

[–] banjopants 17 years ago

'a literal translation of the absurdity of war'

Gimme a break

[–] activista 17 years ago

I agree with you---that's how the film came off, and I appreciate how it was able to do that without losing sight of the humanity of its main characters--I definitely saw some of it that way.