Brotherhood – Taegukgi (2004)

A Korean film directed by Kang Je-gyu, Brotherhood tells the story of two brothers from South Korea forced into military service during the Korean war. Evacuating their homes shortly after North Korea invaded South Korea in the early '50s, the brothers are suddenly enlisted at a train station, along with all eligible 18-30 year old men, and separated from their family before they can catch a train to safety.

As the movie unfolds, the elder brother tries to perform valorous acts in an attempt to protect and, hopefully, earn a discharge for his younger brother. These efforts only work to build a wall between the brothers, turning the elder brother into a hardened soldier, as they face the brutalities and trials of war. The brothers, who had been able to stay together, were finally drawn apart and, after seeing his fiancé killed by anti-communists and believing his brother dead, the elder brother switches sides and begins fighting for the North Koreans. Eventually, the brothers are reunited on the field of battle, bringing the movie nearer its sad conclusion.

A long, graphically violent war flick, there was plenty of action to go around and I wasn't disappointed. A bit sentimental and overly dramatic, at times, but a good story if the gore and grim realities of war don't get you down.