Battlefield Heroes (2011 Film)
Battlefield Heroes, also known by its literal title Pyongyang Castle (Korean: 평양성), is a 2011 South Korean action-comedy film directed by Lee Joon-Ik. It serves as a sequel to the 2003 film Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield (Hwangsanbul), taking place eight years after the events of the original production.
Plot
Set in the 7th century, the film depicts the complex political and military tensions between the Korean kingdoms of Silla and Goguryeo, alongside the influence of the Chinese Tang dynasty. The Silla kingdom, seeking to unify the peninsula, aligns with the Tang dynasty to challenge the larger Goguryeo kingdom. The strategist Kim Yoo-Shin (played by Jung Jin-Young) aims for unification but becomes wary of the Tang dynasty's expansionist ambitions, leading him to secretly maneuver to prevent total Chinese control.
Production
The film was produced by Tiger Pictures and Achim Pictures, with cinematography by Jung Jung-Hoon. Principal photography commenced on August 14, 2010. The opening scene filmed for the production featured a confrontation between King Moon Moo and General Kim Yoo-Shin regarding the deployment of military forces to Pyongyang Castle at the request of the Tang dynasty.
Cast
The film features an ensemble cast including:
- Jung Jin-Young as Kim Yoo-Shin
- Lee Moon-Sik as Geoshigi
- Ryoo Seung-Ryong as Nam-Geon
- Sun Woo-Sun as Geoshigi's wife
- Yoon Je-Moon as Nam-Saeng
- Lee Kwang-Soo as Moon-Di
- Kang Ha-Neul as Nam-San
Reception and Festivals
Battlefield Heroes was screened at several international film festivals, including the 2011 New York Asian Film Festival and the 2011 Fantasia Film Festival. Jung Jin-Young received the Best Actor award at the 33rd Golden Cinematography Awards for his performance in the film.
