

Director: Yun Jong-bin
Cast: Ha Jung-woo, Seo Jang-won, Yun Jong-bin

well, this is not Clint Eastwood's 1992 Oscar award film ...

BUT controversy surrounds the film ... because
(i) it is the director's project for his thesis
(ii) more imptly, the director is being investigated for deceiving the military into filming on location (i.e., with a "positive" script about the military life); yet, the product is that of something else, one which portrays the military not exactly in a positive light ...
(iii) it was featured at the Cannes Film Festival "Un Certain Regard"

The official website
see
http://www.unforgiven.co.kr/index.htm

Synopsis
The film basically traces the life of a new recruit into the military. There, he was fortunate to meet a senior in rank who was his old friend ... would he survive the military? ... would the two maintain their old bond? ... now in their "present life", how have their relationship changed ...

My thoughts

- Having watched it some time ago, the film is good on several grounds ...

(i) for guys who have been through the military, it may touch some chords ... nonetheless, the film does not seek to provide answers to the problem ...

i believe many people would view the plot simply as ... the inevitable repeat of history (under strict regimentation) ... i.e., no matter how much one tries, one will bow to the sytem and probably be compelled to abuse one's authority when one is higher in the hierarchy ...

nonetheless, i offer another interpretation to the film ... which i hope is more thought provoking ... can it also challenges the question ... i.e., when a person "tries to be good" (or "thinks he is doing good"), will he end up aggravating the situation instead, rather than improving it ... afterall, life is never a black and white, but rather gray ... 

(ii) told in flashbacks (hope it does not confuse people), the audience often wonders at the actual relationship between the two main protagonists ... and what actually happened in their military such that one is trying to distant himself from the other in civilian life ... does a bond in the past translates into the future?! ... * no spoilers here *

(iii) hey, the director is rather convincing in his "cameo" role ... 

What can be better ...
i find the film can improve on several aspects
(i) as a matter of fact, some "tell tale" signs of a low budget film
(ii) better pacing, after a while, it can be rather "slow or uneventful" ...
(iii) this can work both ways, the "down to earth" depiction can make the "hazing" looks kind of "mild", yet realistic ... nonetheless, it may not bite as much ...

Conclusion:
Can watch ... you will either like it or hate it ...