Daily Dealings

This time, Russia and South Korea take center stage, with Grigori Chukhrai's Ballad of a Soldier, and Park Dae-min's Private Eye.


Ballad of a Soldier
Directed by Grigori Chukhrai, starring Vladimir Ivashov, Zhanna Prokhorenko, Antonina Maksimova, and Yevgeni Urbansky.

After single-handedly defeating two tanks, young Russian soldier Alyosha (Ivashov) is given leave to visit his mother (Maksimova) and help fix his family's roof. On his long train trip home, he encounters battle hardened soldier Vasya (Urbansky), himself returning home; and falls in love with beautiful stowaway Shura (Prokhorenko). Both encounters show Alyosha the damage of war, and the hope of a better future.

Ballad of a Soldier is an exceptional film. With a simple story and unexperienced lead actors in Ivashov and Prokhorenko, Churkhrai's World War II film has an honest feel. Though very little warfare occurs onscreen, the horrors of war are felt through the characters situations and outlook on life. More than a love story or just another film about World War II, Ballad of a Soldier is a great example of Soviet Cinema, and one of the finest films I've seen.


Private Eye
Directed by Park Dae-min, starring Hwang Jung-min, Ryu Deok-hwan, and Um Ji-won.

Detective Hong Jin-ho (Hwang) is widely known as a top-notch P.I. When medical student Kwang Su (Ryu) accidentally becomes involved in a murder investigation, he hires Hong to help him find the murderer. With help from his scientist friend Soon-deok (Um), Hong uncovers a series of grisly murders related to a ring of governmental corruption.

Private Eye is a period film, set in 1920, in Seoul, South Korea. The story has a nice build-up of suspense and intrigue, followed by a shocking finale. In addition to good plotting, Park's period-noir has a good supporting cast built around the superbly cast Hwang Jung-min. Hwang's portrayal of Hong as an everyman detective, as well as the peroid setting, helps to set the film apart from contemporary neo-noir. With action, thrills, and a healthy dose of humor, Private Eye is an engaging detective film, and one of the better films of 2009.

Next time, Written by, ICAC, The Shootout, My Life As McDull, Koma, and Eye In the Sky.