Silmido is the name of island in Korea, and it is also the combat training center of 39 Korean 'special force' soldiers. They are all social outcasts such as prisoners and gangsters. However, it not like dirty-dozen. They are trained to kill Chairman Kim Il-sung who sent his own special troops to beat the presidential residence of South Korea in 1960s. 'Silmido' is based on the forbidden and veiled documents on this revengefully organized special force unit- the 684 Battalion. The 684s are all trained to redeem their tattered life and show their instinct-based patriotism toward their authoritative country. However, the high-tensed relationship between North and South Korea got mitigated, their role to kill the Chairman Kim could not stand still. Finally, the new director of Korean Central Intelligence Agency orders to secretly kill all 684s, and their final mission is not deploying to the North but to the presidential residence of their own country.
Unlike other Korean action package, this film is highly focusing on the abusal of masculinity, machoism and patriotism, all of which were placed on wrong place, by wrong persons, at wrong time. The rhythm and tempo of this movie is flawless, and well-made combo of both action and suspense is orchestrated by the hand of senior maestro of Korean movie industry- Director Woo-suk Kang. Very sympathetic scenario based on a Korean bestseller under the same title.
Unlike other Korean action package, this film is highly focusing on the abusal of masculinity, machoism and patriotism, all of which were placed on wrong place, by wrong persons, at wrong time. The rhythm and tempo of this movie is flawless, and well-made combo of both action and suspense is orchestrated by the hand of senior maestro of Korean movie industry- Director Woo-suk Kang. Very sympathetic scenario based on a Korean bestseller under the same title.