THE COAST GUARD
The Coast Guard,is a Korean film by renowned director Kim Ki-Duk, who received massive acclaim with films such as The Isle, and Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
and Spring. Focusing more directly on the conflict that still burns within Korea, this movie takes a slightly different approach, using the situation as a platform to explore further elements of human nature.
Private Kang(Jang Dong-Kun), is a member of the South Korean army, in the coastal platoon, which ensures no spies from the North can find their way into the country. Obsessed with achieving the high esteem and honour from killing a spy, he soon finds himself acting out his duty, which results in the killing of a civilian. A great deal of trauma then ensues as the psychological effects take their toll on all people involved in different manners.
Performances convey a whole range of emotions, genuinely convincing, which draw the audience into this horrific turn of events, putting us into the terrible realm of living through their experiences with them. We find ourselves effortlessly attached to the protagonists for better or worse, a real credit to the actors involved.
The direction helps accentuate the narrative to a degree, but there seems a lack of inspiration, letting the characters tell the story rather than letting the direction supplement this. There are however a few sequences of visual pleasure, and a highly intriguing colour palette, when it does matter though, Kim Ki-Duk manages to slip in some impressive moments, yet lacks consistency throughout.
This movie is all about emotion, which we are well fed with large amounts in its rawest forms. The narrative is massively immersive and each step of the way our guts are wrenched by the results of one mere action that stains the lives of so many. However the editing is of mixed value, not making the most of a vital part of filmmaking, and sadly the direction fails to compliment the film as it should, nevertheless the heart and soul of this film lie within its narrative and performances, which certainly make it worthwhile indeed. Definitely worth seeing, and unmissable for fans of Korean cinema.