Illang: The Wolf Brigade
A soldier's loyalty is tested in a reunifying Korea.
Illang: The Wolf Brigade is a 2018 South Korean science fiction action film directed by Kim Jee-woon, adapted from the 1999 Japanese animated film Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. Set in a near-future Korea on the brink of reunification, it follows a Special Unit soldier caught between terrorism and interservice rivalry. The film competed for the Golden Shell at the 66th San Sebastián International Film Festival, the second South Korean film to do so.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Kim Jee-woon
- Producer
- Kim Woo-sang
- Screenplay
- Kim Jee-woon, Jeon Cheol-hong
- Based on
- Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade and characters created, Mamoru Oshii
- Starring
- Gang Dong-won
- Han Hyo-joo
- Jung Woo-sung
- Kim Mu-yeol
- Han Ye-ri
- Choi Min-ho
- Music
- Mowg
- Cinematography
- Lee Mo-gae
- Editing
- Yang Jin-mo
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In 2024, territorial disputes among China, Japan, and South Korea lead to Japanese remilitarization and great-power maneuvering, prompting North and South Korea to agree on reunification within five years. Opposing powers impose heavy tariffs, causing an economic depression that fuels anti-reunification sentiment and the rise of the terrorist group "the Sect." The South Korean government forms the Special Unit, a paramilitary force equipped with powered exoskeletons and gas masks with red lenses, to combat the Sect. A year later, the "Bloody Friday" incident—in which Special Unit soldiers kill 15 schoolgirls mistaken for terrorists—forces them to wear masks on deployment and sparks rivalry with the Public Security Department. In 2029, a protest at Gwanghwamun Plaza turns violent when Sect terrorists attack, and the Special Unit raids their sewer hideout. Soldier Lim Joong-kyung confronts young courier Lee Jae-hee, who detonates her satchel charge rather than surrender. The incident damages the unit's reputation, and a shaken Lim is sent for reevaluation under drill instructor Jang Jin-tae.
Production
Union Investment Partners financed the film, announced in 2013. Filming ran from August 16, 2017, to March 23, 2018, at Studio Cube in South Korea. Hollywood costume designer Vanessa Lee, who worked on Underworld: Evolution and the Avengers films, designed the costumes. Webtoon writer Yoon Tae-ho created a prequel titled Illang: Prequel, set five years before the film, released weekly from June 27, 2018, on Kakao Pages and Daum Webtoon.
Release
Released in South Korea on July 25, 2018, Illang: The Wolf Brigade streamed on Netflix internationally until May 2023 after the platform secured its global rights. The film competed at the 66th San Sebastián International Film Festival, held from September 21 to 29, 2018, making it Kim Jee-woon’s second entry there following I Saw the Devil. Both the director and lead actor Gang Dong-won planned to attend. A red carpet event took place on July 18, 2018, at Times Square Mall in Yeongdeungpo District, featuring the director and cast.
Reception
Mamoru Oshii, writer of the original screenplay, attended a screening and called the film "a powerful movie that provokes lots of thought," praising the balance of realistic locations and futuristic technology. A Yonhap review noted the film focused on recreating the animated world as a large-scale action blockbuster but failed to deliver the protagonist's inner conflict. Jason Bechervaise of Screendaily wrote that while the film has "moments of stylistic brilliance," moving the story to a reunifying Korean peninsula made it "over-plotted and melodramatic." On its first day, the film drew 274,525 admissions. Despite a break-even target of six million tickets, negative reviews led to a three-week run and total admissions of 897,254, grossing 8 billion won against a 19 billion won budget. South Korean film admissions in July 2018 dropped 21.4% from 2017 to 5.39 million, the lowest since 2008, partly attributed to the film's sluggish performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Illang: The Wolf Brigade?
Illang: The Wolf Brigade stars Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung, Kim Mu-yeol, Han Ye-ri and Choi Min-ho.
Who composed the music for Illang: The Wolf Brigade?
The music for Illang: The Wolf Brigade was composed by Mowg.
Who wrote Illang: The Wolf Brigade?
Illang: The Wolf Brigade was written by Kim Jee-woon and Jeon Cheol-hong.
How long is Illang: The Wolf Brigade?
Illang: The Wolf Brigade has a running time of 138 minutes.
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