Shilmido

Synopsis: Based on a true story of 1968 Korean Republic Army plan to assassinate North Korean president Kim Il-Sung. 31 criminals and death row inmates are recruited into secret training on the island of Silmi; for two years they are subjected to maximum mental and physical abuse before the mission is cancelled and the unit terminated. source: IMDB

So good! It reminded me a lot of Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan or Tae Guk Gi, by Kang, Je-Kyu. It's very stylized but not unapproachable, a war movie, and gut wrenching.

It's an especially sensitive time in history right now.  North Korean dictator Kim Jung Il recently passed away leaving his legacy and dictatorship to his youngest son Kim Jung Eun.  It is too soon to tell whether or not he will follow in his Father and Grandfather's footsteps and lead the North Korean people away from the global community.  It is sad and this film brings home the heartfelt pain that the Korean people are still suffering.  Although the story is a true one based on events that happened over 40 years ago from now, it is still a very good representation of the animosity and fear that the countrymen have towards one another.

I wish for the best possible outcome for the reunification of the North and South.  I only pray that those families that have been torn apart by the invisible line of ignorance and misguided patriotism that they may reunite in peace and in this lifetime.