Well, haven't done one of these in a while. Anyway, I figured Chanwook Park's Joint Securty Area was worth checking out. I was interested to see what his work was like before he gained international recognition for what is now the Vengeance trilogy (Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Lady Vengeance). As I expected, it was a pretty decent flick.

Joint Security Area takes place, well, at a joint security area, an area established on the border between North and South Korea, where border violations are investigated. In the film, two North Korean soldiers are found dead and two South Koreans are the suspects. A neutral party is brought in to interrogate them. When one attempts to commit suicide and winds up in a coma, only the other soldier is left to tell the story of what happened and the truth behind the deaths could send the two sides into an all out war.

Unlike Park's later films, this one is actually pretty straightforward and utilizes more conventional storytelling techniques (though the majority of the story is told through flashbacks, it remains linear and isn't anything out of the ordinary). It also lacks the "sick and twisted" elements of Park's later films and feels much more down to earth. Granted there are some heavy themes throughout but, again, nothing out of the ordinary. The film opens up seeming almost like a CSI episode but then evolves into something, although less action-oriented, much more engaging. Despite the themes of murder, treason, and war prominant throughout, I felt the central story of Joint Security Area was much more about friendship and the odds against it and, on a larger scale, the separation of North and South Korea and the impact on the Korean people. I felt it was all very touching but didn't overdo it and become sappy. The film also clearly shows the foundations of what would eventually become the trademarks of Park Chanwook's films including inventive camerawork and quirky sense of humor.

All in all, a very solid and accessible film. Recommended to anyone.