Northern Limit Line (film) explained

Northern Limit Line
Native Name:
Rr:Yeonpyeong Haejeon
Mr:Yŏnp'yŏng Haejŏn
Director:Kim Hak-soon
Producer:Jung Moon-goo
Starring:Kim Mu-yeol
Jin Goo
Lee Hyun-woo
Cinematography:Kim Hyung-koo
Editing:Steve M. Choe
Music:Mok Young-jin
Distributor:Next Entertainment World
Studio:Rosetta Cinema
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Runtime:130 minutes
Gross:[1]

Northern Limit Line is a 2015 South Korean naval thriller film written and directed by Kim Hak-soon, based on the real-life events of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] It stars Kim Mu-yeol, Jin Goo, and Lee Hyun-woo.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Plot

Corporal Park Dong-hyuk is a newly enlisted sailor in the Republic of Korea Navy assigned to the patrol vessel PKM 357. In the midst of the 2002 FIFA World Cup taking place in South Korea, North Korea deploys fishing trawlers with spies to cross the Northern Limit Line (the demarcation line at sea). PKM 357 seizes the trawlers and their men, which allows the spies to familiarise themselves with the ship's superstructure. The North Koreans are eventually released upon orders by the South Korean high command, as part of the government's Sunshine Policy.

Over the coming month, North Korea's Korean People's Navy repeatedly enters South Korean waters to reconnoitre and survey the ROK Navy's patrolling tactics and defensive measures. The South Korean Ministry of Defense is notified about North's strategy but is again ordered by the Blue House to not engage first. South Korea also receives intelligence reports that an attack is forthcoming, but does not change the rules of engagement to counter the looming threat despite the repeated requests of PKM 357s commander, Lieutenant Commander Yoon Young-ha.

On 29 June 2002, the second Battle of Yeonpyeong commences with a surprise attack on PKM 357 by a North Korean patrol vessel. The ensuing battle severely cripples both ships before reinforcements from the South arrives and forces the North's patrol vessel to retreat. 19 wounded and 4 deaths are confirmed before PKM 357 sinks due to uncontrollable fires. Naval divers eventually find the helmsman's body in the sunken vessel.

83 days later, Park Dong-hyuk succumbs to his wounds, becoming the final casualty of the battle. The movie ends with the real life surviving crew members reminiscing about their colleagues with photos of those who perished.

Cast

Production

Director Kim Hak-soon shot the film in 3D, having received a grant from the Korean Film Council (3D effects were done by Dnext Media). Kim said, "I believe that 3D visuals would enable viewers to feel the pain and fear felt by the (men) in a more effective and immersive way."

After initial investors backed out, it took the film seven years to finish production. A third of the budget was raised through crowdfunding via donations by 7,000 individuals. They include 23 members of the 2002 South Korea national football team, and Chung Mong-joon, owner of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group and former president of the Korea Football Association, who donated .[11]

Release

Northern Limit Line was originally set to premiere on June 11, 2015, but due to concerns over the MERS outbreak, distributor Next Entertainment World delayed the theatrical release by two weeks to June 24.[12] [13] [14]

Box office

The film topped the box office on its opening day,[15] [16] [17] and by its first four days of release it had recorded 1.43 million admissions, grossing ; this was notable since June is considered a slow season for the Korean film industry.[18] [19] [20]

As of August 2, it has sold 6,024,894 tickets (grossing), making it the most-watched Korean film in 2015.[21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26]

Political reception

While North Korean state media outlet Uriminzokkiri lambasted it, calling it "distorted" and an "anti-DPRK movie," South Korean conservative politicians such as former president Lee Myung-bak recommended the film.[27]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2015 52nd Grand Bell AwardsBest Film
Best Director
Best New Actor
30th Korea Best Dresser Swan AwardsBest Rising Star
201649th WorldFest-Houston International Film FestivalBest Supporting Actor

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Korea Box Office: Inside Out Rises to Top, Pixels Debuts in Third Spot. Lee. Hyo-won. The Hollywood Reporter. 20 July 2015. 20 July 2015.
  2. Web site: Northern Limit Line Director Talks About Promoting Peace With North Korea. Lee. Hyo-won. The Hollywood Reporter. 15 June 2015. 26 June 2015.
  3. Web site: Jin. Eun-soo. Yeonpyeong resurrects overshadowed part of history. Korea JoongAng Daily. 6 June 2015. 5 June 2015.
  4. Web site: Kim. Hee-eun. Film to commemorate Yeonpyeong. Korea JoongAng Daily. 17 May 2015. 27 May 2014.
  5. Web site: Doo. Rumy. Newsmaker – Northern Limit Line: Korean patriotism. The Korea Herald. 2 July 2015. 29 June 2015.
  6. Web site: Military Marks 13th Anniversary of Naval Skirmish. The Chosun Ilbo. 30 June 2015. 30 June 2015.
  7. Web site: Conran. Pierce. LEE Hyun-woo Prepares for BATTLE OF YEONPYEONG. Korean Film Biz Zone. 17 May 2015. 11 July 2014.
  8. Web site: Ghim. Sora. The Story Of Brave Men Who Protected The Country. BNTNews. 13 May 2015. 6 May 2015. 28 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128175730/http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=20699. dead.
  9. Web site: Choi. He-suk. Actors' pick of best scenes from Northern Limit Line. K-pop Herald. 22 June 2015. 17 June 2015.
  10. Web site: Kim. Na-hyeon. Kim Moo-yeol is back in uniform for NLL film. Korea JoongAng Daily. 26 June 2015. 25 June 2015.
  11. Web site: Thousands Crowd Preview of Cross-Border Skirmish Flick. The Chosun Ilbo. 26 June 2015. 23 June 2015.
  12. Web site: Noh. Jean. S Korea's NEW holds film release over Mers outbreak. Screen International. 27 June 2015. 5 June 2015.
  13. Web site: Lee. Hyo-won. South Korean Movie Theaters Suffer Amid MERS Outbreak. The Hollywood Reporter. 14 June 2015. 7 June 2015.
  14. Web site: Conran. Pierce. NORTHERN LIMIT LINE Pushed Back over MERS Concerns. Korean Film Biz Zone. 14 June 2015. 10 June 2015.
  15. Web site: Film on inter-Korean naval clash tops box-office. Yonhap. 27 June 2015. 25 June 2015.
  16. Web site: Film on inter-Korean naval clash tops box-office. K-pop Herald. 26 June 2015. 25 June 2015.
  17. Web site: Battleship movie explodes onto screens. The Korea Times. 27 June 2015. 25 June 2015.
  18. Web site: Lee. Hyo-won. South Korea Box Office: Local War Drama Northern Limit Line Topples Jurassic World. The Hollywood Reporter. 30 June 2015. 28 June 2015.
  19. Web site: Northern Limit Line Draws More Than 1 Million Viewers. The Chosun Ilbo. 30 June 2015. 29 June 2015.
  20. Web site: Jin. Eun-soo. Northern Limit Line breaks domestic records. Korea JoongAng Daily. 30 June 2015. 30 June 2015.
  21. Web site: Northern Limit Line Hits 2 Million Viewer Mark. The Chosun Ilbo. 3 July 2015. 2 July 2015.
  22. Web site: Yoon. Sarah. Northern Limit Line battle flick tops 3m ticket sales. K-pop Herald. 10 July 2015. 5 July 2015.
  23. Web site: Northern Limit Line, most-viewed Korean film of this year. Yonhap. 10 July 2015. 10 July 2015.
  24. Web site: Northern Limit Line Set to Exceed 4 Million Viewer Mark. The Chosun Ilbo. 15 July 2015. 10 July 2015.
  25. Web site: Conran. Pierce. NORTHERN LIMIT LINE Back on Top in Week 3. Korean Film Biz Zone. 3 August 2015. 13 July 2015.
  26. Web site: Korean Movies Boost Share of Box Office. The Chosun Ilbo. 3 August 2015. 30 July 2015.
  27. Web site: Choi. Ha-young. Northern Limit Line about more than past inter-Korean clash. NK News. 30 June 2015. 29 June 2015.

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