It's hard to watch in that it deals with difficult issues and doesn't shy away from the brutality. But it's also a beautifully told story from beginning to end. Everything from the dialouge to the cinematography to production is so finely crafted. The cast was excellent - especially Jung Hae In. Before this, I thought he does best in Romance/Romantic Comedy but he did such a fantastic job here. Without giving away too much ...there is a heart rending scene near the end that in the hands of a lesser actor, a more self-conscious actor would not have had the same impact. He threw himself in 100%. Cho Hyun Chul was also a standout as an abused soldier. His character arc played by less talented actor wouldn't be as believable.