Coast Guard

Never Let Your Guard Down

They’re Watching the South Korean Coast … But Who’s Watching Them?

Award-Winning Filmmaker Kim Ki-Duk’s The Coast Guard

In Stores Nationwide Sept. 6th from Tartan Video

“Emotionally intense. Jang Dong-kun is superb.”
— Derek Elley, Daily Variety

From Kim Ki-duk, award-winning director of 3-Iron and Samaritan Girl, comes The Coast Guard (original title: Hae anseon), from Tartan Video Sept. 6th.

Private Kang (Jang Dong-kun), a member of Coast Guard Platoon 23, monitors a stretch of beach lined with barbed-wire fencing. Driven by the belief that killing a spy is the highest honor, Kang eagerly awaits a chance to prove his worth as a soldier.

One night, Kang mistakes a promiscuous couple for a North Korean spy and shoots without hesitation. Despite receiving honors, Kang slowly begins to unravel under the grief of his actions. Losing his grip on reality, he tries to revert to the life he once knew. But tensions and paranoia escalate and further tragedy becomes unavoidable.

Regarded as the “bad boy” of Korean cinema, Kim Ki-duk’s prolific career has spawned a dozen films in nine years and a host of accolades. Samaritan Girl won him the “Silver Bear” for “Best Director” at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival; and 3-Iron, which was released theatrically here in the U.S., won him a “Best Director” award at the 2004 Venice Film Festival. The Bow, Kim's 12th feature film, was screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Korean, with English and Spanish subtitles, The Coast Guard is presented in anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS Surround Sound 5.1. Special DVD features include exclusive interview with the director; introduction by the director; “Making Of” featurette; original theatrical promotional materials; music video; photo gallery; and trailers of Tartan Video’s upcoming releases.

Hamish McAlpine, founder of Tartan Films – which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year in the U.K. – launched Tartan U.S.A. in 2004 with an eclectic and controversial slate of films from established auteurs and up-and-coming filmmakers. Recent Tartan film releases include Catherine Breillat’s controversial Anatomy of Hell, the sincerely creepy A Tale of Two Sisters and the 2004 Cannes Grand Jury Prize-winner Oldboy, directed by Park Chanwook. Upcoming releases include Gregg Araki’s critically acclaimed Mysterious Skin and Michael Winterbottom’s highly controversial 9 Songs. Tartan Video is distributed exclusively by TLA Releasing in the U.S. and CHV Communications in Canada. For more information, visit www.TartanVideoUSA.com.

The Coast Guard (aka Hae anseon)
Tartan Video
Genre: Drama/Foreign
Rating: R (Special Features Not Rated/Subject to Change)
Language: Korean (English & Spanish Subtitles)
Format: DVD Only
Running Time: Approx. 94 Minutes (Plus Special Features)

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Synopsis:
A member of Coast Guard Platoon 23, Private Kang (Dong-Kun Jang) monitors a high-infiltration stretch of beach lined with barbed-wire fencing. Driven by the belief that killing a spy is the highest honor, Kang waits eagerly for a chance to prove his worth as a soldier. One night, Kang mistakes a promiscuous couple for a North Korean spy and shoots without hesitation. Despite receiving honors, Kang slowly begins to unravel under the grief of what he’s done. Losing his grip on reality, Kang tries to revert to the life he knew while tensions and paranoia escalate and further tragedy becomes unavoidable.