Hanbando (film)
| Hanbando | |
|---|---|
 Hanbando movie poster | |
| Directed by | Kang Woo-suk |
| Written by |
Kim Hie-jae Lee Hyo-cheol |
| Starring |
Ahn Sung-ki Cha In-pyo Cho Jae-hyun Moon Sung-keun Kang Shin-il |
| Distributed by | Cinema Service |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 147 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
Hanbando is a 2006 South Korean blockbuster film.
Plot
Taking place in the not too distant future, North and South Korean governments are on the verge of re-opening the Kyungui Railroad, which connects the two Koreas as a further step toward reunification, when Japan refuses to accept the decision, claiming rights to the railway lines based on official documents imprinted with the imperial seal of Emperor Gojong of Joseon a century ago. Yet an age old conspiracy is uncovered where the imperial seal with which Emperor Gojong signed the documents is suspected to be fake. It is a race against time and hidden agendas as the South Korean President (Ahn Sung-ki) employs the outspoken historian Choi Min-jae (Jo Jae-hyeon) and the descendant of the Joseon royal bloodline Kim Yu-shik (Kang Shin-il) to find the authentic seal and prevent the history of Japanese occupation from repeating itself. In the meantime, Japanese economic sanctions divide the Korean government, and its armed forces appear on the border of Korea threatening its sovereignty. Eventually, the authentic royal seal is found and Japan apologizes for its occupation.
Critical reception
The JoongAng Ilbo gave the film a largely negative review, calling its plot far-fetched, the acting overdone, and criticizing its heavy-handed nationalism. The review commented positively on the accuracy of scenes in which the Korean prime minister deals with businessmen, and on the "beautifully choreographed" though bloody depictions of historical events at the end of the Joseon Dynasty. According to the review, the conclusion of the film, in which Japan apologizes for its occupation of Korea, provides viewers with catharsis in a country in which anti-Japanese sentiment is still strong.[1]
References
- ↑ Ser, Myo-ja (October 17, 2006). "Overacted and simplistic nationalism". JoongAng Ilbo. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
External links
- Hanbando at the Internet Movie Database
- Lee, Yong-sung (June 29, 2006). "'Hanbando' makes viewers feel uneasy". Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- Review at koreanfilm.org