10 Gut-Wrenching Moments In War Films
7. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood Of War - Brothers United On Opposing Lines
It's surprising how little films there are portraying the tragic conflict of the Korean War. The Korean War set in motion not only the involvement in the Vietnam war, but set the stage for the United States' trajectory of never-ending war and the current armistice between North and South Korea.
The 2004 South Korean war film Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood Of War, depicts the harrowing experiences of brothers Jin-seok and Jan-tae as they're forcibly drafted in the conflict and left on opposing ends of the battlefield. Jin-tae defects to the North in protest and outrage after believing Jin-seok died in the jail fire started by his own Southern comrades. However, Jin-seok was saved by an old ally and tells him of his brother's whereabouts. Determined, Jin-seok attempts to defect to reunite with his brother, only for South Korean and U.N. forces attack their outpost.
As North Korean forces retaliate, Jin-tae leads the charge with his flag unit. The brothers finally come face to face in battle with Jin-tae in a fit a rage, not recognizing the man he's fighting is actually his brother. Jin-tae finally comes to his senses and realizing the chances of survival are slim, he tells his brother to go on without him. He hands him a pen and promises the two will reunite again. He suppresses fire with an abandoned machine gun as the oncoming North Korean and Chinese soldiers advance on the battlefield.
As Jin-seok turns back one last time, he sees his brother crumpled to the ground surrounded by shell casings in one of the most heart-wrenching moments in modern war films.