Fast, rapid quick, and relentless are a few of the words that come to mind when watching the opening sequences of the new Korean thriller Escape. An instant box hit office in its homeland, Escape tells the story of a North Korean Army Sargent Lim- Kyu-nam (Lee Je-hoon) in the last few days of his 10 - year mandatory military service looking to take his final opportunity to escape to the South as he will likely not have his current freedom of movement or knowledge of the mine placements in and around the demilitarized zone ever again. Lim has been plotting his departure for a while. He was sneaking out of the barracks every night and marking the mine locations on a homemade map. One of his juniors Kim Dong-hyuk (Hong Xa-bin) knows what's up and when an impending rainfall moves up the timetable. Kim demands to go as well or will expose Lim to superiors as the strict regime vigorously encourages soldiers to do.
Lim's initial plan is thwarted mainly because of Kim but a chance to survive is extended to Lim by an unlikely source. The notorious Field Officer Li Hyun-Sang ( Koo Kyo-hwan) a childhood acquaintance of Lim's as his dad worked as a driver for the Li family. Lim has to constantly recalculate his moves as the film progresses as different obstacles are thrown at him. He often looks to his hero refers to his The Tenacious Explorer Amundsen author of an adventure novel that read repeatedly as a child. His other prized possession is a small radio where he listens to a ROK Radio broadcast from the south that speaks to the opportunities available in the promised land.
Director Lee Jong-pil creates a world underpinned with a phenetic pace that will have the viewer thinking of similar adrenaline thrillers Run Lola Run or another German film Victoria and even Ethan Hunt's need to run in the Mission Impossible films. The cinematography is sharp and crisp as well. The gun play has stylish elegance. One scene of spectacular lighting stands out as Lim and Kim attempt to stay hidden near a fence as a searchlight from a sniper tower pans to find them. The story is about two North Koreans at it centre but its audience is South Korea with a message of Making the best of the opportunities you have, not being afraid to fail, and being thankful that you do have that opportunity to fail at what you want to do.
The ensemble cast all perform well. The cat and mouse play between Lee Je-hoon's Lim and Koo Kyo-hwan's Li at the centre. Childhood acquaintances bordering on friends pitted against each other with one needing to stop the other not because he wants to but knowing the personal consequences if he doesn't. The film is a heart thumper that I can recommend.
*** Out of 4
Escape| Lee Jong-pil | Korea | 2024| 94 Minutes.
DMZ, Mines, Piano, Military Service, Map, Driver, The Tenacious Explorer Amundsen, ROK Radio, Necklace.
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