Friend Review

Set in 1976 and 1981, Korea, Chingoo tells an epic tale between friends diverging in in life. Chingoo means "friend," and that's what the story is primarily about - the strong bonds between males from birth until death. It illustrates how pure and innocent youthful friendships can be undone by the broader, but ultimately less important, adult world concerns of lust, greed and power. It's to no surprise why this movie gained so much recognition from film festivals worldwide - it gracefully combines the themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and hoodlum life without a single hitch in performance, story play, or imagery. This movie sits comfortably near The Godfather, being the most genuine Korean works I've seen to date. 9.4/10.