Format:
[DVD] (56 Min.)
,
s/w
,
mono
Series Statement:
The Past Unearthed 3
Uniform Title:
Ji-wonbyeong
Content:
As the title suggests, and "dedicated to the Governor General", the Japanese militaristic propaganda elements of "Volunteer" would appear to be central to the purpose of Ahn Suk-young’s film of a young Korean man finding a real direction and meaning in his life when he is finally able to join the army and serve the Japanese nation. So heavily does this theme weigh on the film that the sketchy romance and love-triangle elements that should support it come across almost as an afterthought. After the death of his father, the stewardship of the land he looked after has been left to his son Choon-ho, who cultivates it well, but is not really cut out for the peasant life. The landlord Park Chang-gi therefore dismisses him from the post and appoints the more experienced Kim Duk-sam. Choon-ho believes that he can better serve his land and people by fighting in the war, but it is only when regulations that prevent Korean troops from joining the Japanese army are relaxed that he is able to realise his dream and enlist. In the middle of this propaganda film, there is the inevitable love-triangle misunderstandings as Choon-ho’s fiancée Boon-ok becomes suspicious of his relationship with Soo-ae, the sister of landlord Park. Choon-ho for his part becomes jealous when he sees Boon-ok with another land-worker Chang-sik ... Volunteer is attractively photographed with a good eye for the country landscapes, the Korean shore and the people working on the land - but the drama and motivation of the characters within this lack conviction. [www.dvdtimes.co.uk]
Note:
mehrsprachige Originalfassung / UT: engl. ; korean.
Language:
Undetermined
Keywords:
DVD-Video
