Blazing Sun

Directed by Hah Myung-joong (하명중)

Written by • Lee Young-il (이영일) • Na Han-bong (나한봉)

90min | Release date in South Korea: 1985/08/01

Synopsis
It is the 1930s and Korea is under the Japanese occupation. The Korean people barely survive day to day under the cruel and difficult conditions of the Japanese. Choon-ho and his wife Soon-i wander about the whole country looking for a place to live. As his wife lags behind, Choon-ho yells at her. He tries to throw away the kettle that she is holding but she holds on to it with her dear life. Choon-ho fails over and over at gambling and gold mines. They settle down in a mining village. Due to his troubles, Choon-ho habitually beats and berates Soon-i but she works diligently, loving and watching over him. He doesn't understand why Soon-i wants a child. Choon-ho puts all his energy into getting out of his present misery, at all costs. He listens intently to Hyang-sim, a barmaid, when she says she'll introduce him to her uncle in Seoul who is well connected to the Japanese. Choon-ho yells and beats Soon-i to get some extra money. In order to get some money, Soon-i goes to the home of Lee's mistress. Lee is a loan shark. His mistress is willing to pay in advance for precious mountain ginseng. But when Soon-i gets there, the mistress is out and she runs into Lee instead. Lee has always had his eye on Soon-i. He tries to violate her as she fights him off desperately. In the end, Lee gives her money and takes her. With the money Soon-i has gotten him, Choon-ho goes to Seoul with Hyang-sim to meet her uncle. Meanwhile, a wife of the village is found floating dead in the river.

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