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This is gritty and bleak realism at its best. We are in a countryside village on the border to North-Korea were poverty and war (both the Korean war and the continuation of the cold war) takes its toll on the villagers. Prospects are none, but some think of America as one and therefore learns English. This also provides some of the small pieces of comedy in the movie, for example when some youngsters try to translate from a hustler magazine or when two bullies are tough with speaking English with strong Korean accent; Koreans have trouble pronouncing f for instance.. Some other comedy is the US army battalion running and crawling everywhere and the war veteran crazy for medals always bragging about killing 3 commies.

Anyway this very grim and bleak realism is obviously made as a political commentary. I don't blame any of them, they are victims of their circumstances. I sympathize with every one of them. Kim Ki-Duk don't blame anyone either, the Americans are portrayed as human, not as heroes nor devils, but the theme of globalization and colonization still lies implied in the movie. Actually its full of commentary. I wont get into it here.

I know there's a big difference between countryside Korea and big city Korea, but even though I cant say if its real or not, I believe this to be quite realistic. The utter consequences the movie depicts of course is fiction and made to emphasize the horror and drama, this is a movie after all.

This was not very well received in Korea and understandably so, it takes up problems that are very actual today and brings up a painful past. To get rid of these problems it is very important however, that someone like Kim Ki-Duk makes these kind of movies and for people to see them. So go see it!! But its not a pleasant watch.

Do you love animals? Have you ever ate dog meat? Beware, this film can make you nauseous. This film has an outer cover of a very light drama. But, remember, this is a Kim Ki-duk movie, so intense and deeply emotional. I really love his films for the fact that how creative he is around emotions and creating situations that breaks the cliché and our expectations. Amazing movie.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this film as much as I did is because it is one of those rare films that sticks with you! After I finished watching it, I felt compelled to stay up way later then I should have because I just could not stop talking about it! There was just so much going on! It was so powerful...dark, emotional, complex, intense. However, unlike most reviews that I have read, I noticed a few comedic elements as well. It was kind of a sad funny, but they were scenes that literally gave you a moment to catch your breath and laugh before being thrown back into the darkness... which I felt really made the film that much more powerful! The director is just so talented it's sick! No pun intended!

Wow. I never felt so scarred after leaving the cinema and seeing a good film. Doom is making it's appearance and it will not go away even after the very end. The whole setting of the film is marvelous. Desolate, hopeless and there's no way out of the barren landscape. All persons are victim of this place, knowing they cannot escape, with all consequences. The fact that those who should have gotten it don't, makes it a very bitter ride. I watched every second, hopeless but fixed to the screen. Only minor is the somewhat overacting of some of the featured American soldiers, but okay still a perfect 9 out of 10. Highly recommended, another fine piece of Korean cinema.

Kim Ki-Duk has been one of my favorite directors for a long time - or so I thought. The intensity of films like "Seom" or "Bin-Jip" was exicting when I was younger but the older I get, the more do I feel exhausted by the endless suffering and violence in this man's movies.

This whole film is about a bunch of people in South Korea who all hate themselves or each other, who are miserable and mean and use every opportunity to hurt or humiliate each other.

Non of them is sympathetic, not even the ones who are clearly supposed to be rather sympathetic (the women, as expected).

Men seem to have given up on things and women all want to learn english and move to america, the holy and chosen land where rivers are filled with milk and honey, or at least make out with an american soldier who is stationed in South Korea in order to humiliate their husbands or hurt their fathers or brothers.

There isn't even any plot, let alone a resolution. You get implicated animal cruelty and animal abuse at times when characters don't insult each other or proceed to kill their mothers or puppies.

I don't think I've gotten softer (although I really appreciate some nature documentary more than ever now) but I kinda grew out of watching people or even animals suffer, even there is a supposed touch of social commentary in it.