Today, Well Go USA is releasing The Front Line in select theaters across the country to an eager Asian film loving audience who have waited patiently for director Jang Hun’s follow-up to Secret Reunion. Hun’s war drama was South Korea’s entry into the Academy Awards’ Foreign Language race and though it didn’t make the cut, it is still a decent picture with some serious production value behind it.
As the Korean War nears its end and a ceasefire is called, there is one area of land called Aero.K (in the Aerok Hills) that is considered a strategic point to both sides and, as such, fighting continues to rage on in that spot. The story focuses on the best soldier on the front line, known as Alligator Company, but when an officer is found shot with a bullet from the gun of a fellow officer, Lieutenant of Defense Security Command Kang Eun-Pyo (Shin Ha-Kyun) is sent to investigate the incident.
When Kang Eun-Pyo arrives at the front line, he comes to the realization that these men are in a different state of mind then the ones stationed everywhere else. As he begins to investigate he discovers that a friend that he thought was dead, Kim Soo-Hyuk (Ko Soo), is actually alive and well. While the soldiers are told that the war will end in a week, they know better than to listen and just continue to fight on as they have been, retaking Aero.K and then having it taken back from them. As more soldiers die and the cycle continues, Kang Eun-Pyo takes on an infantry role while also keeping his investigation in mind all the while trying to make sense as to why it happened.
From a historical perspective, The Front Line is a thought provoking film in the sense that it shows the stubborn nature of man and how governments are willing to easily sacrifice the lives of their soldiers so that they can draw a line over a hill. In hindsight I can’t say how having that hill would have made a difference in the establishment of each country, but it does seem like a petty thing. Since the film focuses on the soldiers’ perspective of the war and their relationship with the enemy, it is easy to see that most soldiers have no idea why they are fighting anymore, all they see are their friends and brother dying.
One major plot point, which I briefly mention above, is the relationship that the South Korea soldiers have with the North Koreans. Without spoiling the reveal, it is important to note that even if their perspectives are extremely different, they are all human and can still be brothers when the fighting ceases but when the order to fight are given, they can all be as cold 
as robots. There were some characters that actually showed compassion for the enemy which frustrated me at times because it led to unnecessary deaths later in the film, had soldiers been smarter they wouldn’t have had to feel the pain later on. Jang Hun does a good job of showcasing how small decisions can have a great effect later down the road and that war isn’t something to take lightly.
If you know your history and understand that, technically, North and South Korea are still at war, then you’ll be able to figure out the progression of the movie from the start even if you don’t know the story. Unfortunately, while the film is decent it is hindered by its length and its inability to truly captivate the audience. Also, the inclusion of a North Korean sniper that attacks alone and the need to incorporate a romantic subplot felt unnecessary and took away from the focus of Kang Eun-Pyo’s relationship to Kim Soo-Hyuk and the rest of the squad.
The Front Line isn’t one of the finer South Korean films I’ve seen but at least it’s one that can inspire some sort of intellectual conversation. I understand why it didn’t make the cut for the Oscars but that shouldn’t prevent you from going out and seeing it. There are some solid battle scenes and while those are important, it’ll do you good if you focus your attention on the South Korean infantrymen and their perspective on the war as it may shine some light that on topics that you’ve never thought about.
Rating: Not South Korea’s best war drama but a decent one that’ll make you think about war and the men running it (6/10)
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