korean movie performing in Japan?

[Don Brown]

A Japanese friend who speaks Korean and is very knowledgeable about Korea 
saw JSA a few weeks ago, and did not think much of it.  I think she felt it 
has that same Hollywood glaze to it that many of the recent South Korean 
blockbusters have, and wasn't impressed by what she interpreted as a fairly 
far-fetched story, what with the chummy relationship of the guards from 
opposing sides at Panmunjom (although the sympathetic depiction of the 
North Korean characters was apparently quite revolutionary).
However, after returning from a week in Seoul recently, her opinion had 
changed somewhat.  Having broached the subject with friends, one agreed 
with her opinion, but the rest were right behind the movie.  I believe that 
her negative view of the film was due to what she perceived to be its lack 
of realism, but after mentioning this she was strongly rebuked by the 
group.  It seems that in their view, the kind of incidents featured in JSA 
do happen, and such friendships between those patrolling the border are not 
uncommon.  Who to believe?  
Don Brown
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