Skip to main content

In wars, all are losers!

The Fortress (Korean; 2017)

Somehow, what I read in secondary school history came flooding into my mind when I was watching this movie. The setting had a lot of similarity to the time, in 1274 and 1281, when the Mongol fleet led by Kublai Khan, attacked Japan. In the first attack, the samurais defended their lands fiercely. The Mongols retreated to their ships only to be blown away by a typhoon. In the second, the attackers could not land as the Japanese had built a sturdy wall. After hovering around the coast for months, the Armada was swept away by another big storm. The Japanese, having been saved by the elements of Nature, named the typhoon 'kamikaze' (divine winds).

In this film, based on fiction, a small territory in an icy cold region of 1636 Korea with its own King and ministers, is harrowed by the impending attack by the Chinese Qing Army in the North. The King, with his Army, is pushed to defend in a fortress as they wait for reinforcement from their reluctant neighbours in the South.

 The movie, though appearing draggy at times, discusses the nitty-gritty of how war affects the general people. The need to hoodwink into nationalism and blind obedience to the people in power seem to be a sure way for leaders to cling on to the throne. Within the melee too are internal squabbles within the ruling junta to appear more relevant, earn brownie points and climb the ladder of the hierarchy. It is a dog eat dog world, and the losers are always the poor and powerless.

 It is a compelling costume drama with violent battle scenes as well as poignant heart-wrenching instances to showcase futility of wars.






Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gory historic details or gore fest?

Razakar:  The Silent Genocide Of Hyderabad  (Telegu, 2024) Director:  Yata Satyanarayana In her last major speech before her disposition, Sheikh Hasina accused those who opposed her rule in Bangladesh of being Razakars. The opposition took offence to this term and soon widespread mob throughout the land. Of course, it is not that that single incident brought down an elected government but a culmination of joblessness and unjust reservations for a select population group. In the Bengali psyche, Razakar is a pejorative term meaning traitor or Judas. It was first used during the 1971 Pakistan Civil War. The paramilitary group who were against the then-East Pakistani leader, Majibur Rehman, were pro-West Pakistan. After establishing independence in Bangladesh, Razakars were disbanded, and many ran off to Pakistan. Around the time of Indian independence, turmoil brewed in the princely state of Hyderabad, which had been a province deputed by the Mughals from 1794. The rule of N...
Post a Comment
Read more

The products of a romantic star of the yesteryear!

Now you see all the children of Gemini Ganesan (of four wives, at least) posing gleefully for the camera after coming from different corners of the world to see the ailing father on his deathbed. They seem to found peace with the contributor of their half of their 46 chromosomes. Sure, growing up must have been hell seeing their respective mothers shedding tears, indulgence in unhealthy activities with one of them falling prey to the curse of the black dog, hating the sight of each step sibling, their respective heartaches all because of the evil done by one man who could not put his raging testesterones under check! Perhaps,the flashing lights and his dizzying heights that his career took clouded his judgement. After all, he was only human... Gems of Gemini Ganesan L-R: Dr Revathi Swaminathan, Narayani Ganesan, Dr Kamala Selvaraj, Rekha, Vijaya Chamundeswari   and Dr Jaya Shreedhar.  ( Abs:  Radha Usman Syed, Sathish Kumaar Ganesan) Seeing six of Ge...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chicken's Invite? (Ajak-ajak ayam)

In the Malay lingo, the phrase 'ajak-ajak ayam' refers to an insincere invitation. Of course, many of us invite for courtesy's sake, but then the invitee may think that the invitation is for real! How does anyone know? Inviters and invitees must be smart enough to take the cue that one party may have gatecrashed with ulterior motives, or the other may not want him to join in the first place! Easily twenty years ago, my family was invited to a toddler's birthday party. As my children were toddlers, too, we were requested to come early so that my kids could run around and play in their big compound. And that the host said she would arrange a series of games for them to enjoy. So there we were in the early evening at a house that resembled very little of one immersed in joy and celebration. Instead, we were greeted by a house devoid of activities and no guests. The host was still out shopping her last-minute list, and her helper was knee-deep in her preparations to ...
2 comments
Read more