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.
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