VIDEO Megan Fox speaks for audience in historical film about unsung heroes
Hollywood actress Megan Fox appears as American war correspondent Maggie in the new Korean film “Battle of Jangsari.” Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea
By Dong Sun-hwa
New wartime film “Battle of Jangsari” puts the spotlight on unsung heroes of the Korean War (1950-53).
Although the flick mostly focuses on 722 student soldiers from the South who fought against North Korean forces in Jangsa-ri, North Gyeongsang Province, it also introduces another key player, American war correspondent Maggie.
Maggie, played by Hollywood heartthrob Megan Fox, poses problems on the audience's behalf like a spokesperson. In the beginning, she points out how absurd it is to deploy untrained boys to the battlefield as “cannon fodder.” Later, when Korea and America consider deserting them to pursue “bigger priorities,” she again raises her voice to save them.
The poster for the movie “Battle of Jangsari.” Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea
“I named the character Maggie to pay homage to war correspondents including Marguerite Higgins and Margaret Bourke-White,” filmmaker Kwak Kyung-taek said during the press preview at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, Wednesday.
“At first I only thought about Higgins, but later decided to show respect to all involved journalists. Hence, I changed the character's name from Marguerite to Maggie.”
Among the journalists, Higgins, who worked for the New York Herald Tribune, wrote the book “War in Korea: The Report of a Woman Combat Correspondent.” She became the first female to win a Pulitzer Prize for Foreign Correspondence in 1951.
Although Fox was not in Korea on Wednesday, she came here in August for a press event.
“This is the history that the world should know,” Fox said. “I think a lot of elements were appealing about this movie. It was a challenge that I've never done before, so it was a new adventure to try.”
“Battle of Jangsari” sheds light on the Jangsa marine landing operation on Sept 14, 1950. A guerilla troop comprising inexperienced student soldiers ― whose average age was 17 ― takes on the secret mission to distract the North Korean force, one day before the well-known landing at Incheon, or Operation Chromite, commanded by American General Douglas MacArthur.
Minho, a member of K-pop boy band SHINee, and actors Kim Sung-cheol and Lee Jae-wook assume the roles of the student soldiers.
The cast and crew of the flick “Battle of Jangsari” during the press preview at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
“The movie is neither large-scale nor heroic. Simply speaking, it is a dramatic story of some young soldiers involved in (relatively small-scale) battles. But I wanted to make the plot tight," he said.
“I also didn't' want to infuse anti-communist ideas or excessive patriotism in the movie. My father once told me that the Korean War was an ideological conflict among the great powers that led Koreans to fight against each other. Thus, I hope people remember this past tragedy and learn something from it for our future through the film.”
Kim Myung-min, who plays the unit leader Captain Lee Myung-jun, said he hoped the “unknown” heroes can grab public attention.
“I met with the war veterans early September and they appreciated us for recounting their stories. But I knew I would not be sitting here today if it were not for these 'unknown' heroes," he said. "The veterans also said they finally felt like paying for the sins to their brothers in arms."
He added: “I hope more people get to know about these heroes and bear them in mind.”
“Battle of Jangsari” starts screening nationwide on Sept. 25.