The Battleship Island (2017)

Director: Seung-wan Ryoo

Starring: Jung-min Hwang, So Ji-sub, Lee Jung-huyn

During the Japanese colonial era, roughly 400 Korean people, who were forced onto Battleship Island (“Hashima Island”) to mine for coal, attempt to escape.

I can’t decide whether this was intended to be a drama or comedy, as it has equal parts of both (in the beginning), although the drama is more dramatic than the humor is funny. I also can’t understand why a girl was cast as a boy who dresses like a girl (the role of Lee So-hee), unless she was just passed off as a boy in the film, but still looked more like a girl than a boy. Confusing! The characters’ intentions are also somewhat unclear at times. Having said this, it was still a good, enjoyable film though.

Some great photography and action scenes. The final battle scene during the escape is awesome!!

In Korean