A Grand Production with 1.4 Billion Won Invested in 1990... 30,000 Personnel Mobilized
Late Music Director Shin Byungha's Film Music Included as CD Supplement
Director Jeong Ji-young's Nambugun (1990) is a pioneering film that offers a new interpretation and perspective on the Korean War. This was because most films dealing with the Korean War until then were focused on conveying anti-communist messages. This fresh viewpoint began to emerge around 1990 as the Cold War system collapsed. Nambugun was at the forefront of this shift. By setting partisans as the protagonists, it recreated their desperate and painful experiences from their perspective. It also asserted that North Korean soldiers and leftist activists were human beings, delivering a significant shock to Korean society, which had been dominated by anti-communist ideology.
The Korean Film Archive recently released Nambugun as the twentieth work in its "Classic Film Blu-ray Collection." An official stated, "It is a suitable work to reflect on the 70 years since the Korean War," adding, "It provided an opportunity to recognize and evaluate the Korean War more broadly, moving away from a solely anti-communist viewpoint." Nambugun was a major production at the time, with a budget of 1.4 billion won. It took more than two years to produce, and involved as many as 30,000 personnel. The cast included top actors of the era such as Ahn Sung-ki, Choi Min-soo, Lee Hye-young, and Choi Jin-sil.
The Blu-ray uses footage recently restored in 4K by the Archive. The restoration corrected image shake and scratches on the original negative film, while removing noise and balancing the sound. Director Jeong Ji-young participated as a supervisor in the restoration. Special supplements include a CD of film music by the late music director Shin Byung-ha and commentary by key production members (Jeong Ji-young and Ahn Sung-ki). Director Shin was responsible for the film music of Nambugun, as well as the General's Son series and Flying Boys. An official explained, "Eight tracks entrusted to the Korea Music Copyright Association were extracted from LPs in the best sound quality and included," adding, "Although released on tape and LP in 1991, these are now rare editions that are almost impossible to find."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
