Country: Korea

Direction Yang Ju-nam

Cast Mun Ye-bong · Yu Seok-Ok · Cho Taek-Won · Kim Han

Synopsis Sweet Dream (1936) is a groundbreaking Korean film that was preserved as the oldest in the country as of 2008. It was considered scandalous and groundbreaking for its era, set during Korea's colonial period when the nation was on the...

Direction Bang Han-jun

Cast Yun-bong Choi · Dok Eun-ki · Jeon Taek-yi · Kim Han

Synopsis Garden of Victory (1940) is a historical propaganda film crafted by the Japanese military to inspire and enlist young Korean men into their ranks. The movie aims to bolster recruitment efforts by portraying the urgency and necessity of defending the...

Direction Bang Han-jun

Cast Yun-bong Choi · Dok Eun-ki · Jeon Taek-yi · Kim Shin-jae

Synopsis A Song in the Year of Abundance (1942) unfolds in a rural setting where the preceding year's harvest was disastrous, leaving many farmers to endure a harsh winter. As the new growing season approaches, the outlook is grim due to...

Direction Na Woon-Gyu

Cast Na Woon-Gyu · Shin Il-seon · Nam Gung-un · Hong Myeong-seon

Synopsis Arirang (1926) tells the tale of a man who finds himself in a rural setting, residing at a friend's home. The family he joins includes a father, a daughter, and a son who is mentally unstable. The man develops romantic...

Direction Bang Han-jun

Cast Kim Seong-chun · Kim Il-hae · Seok Il-ryang · Park Je-haeng

Synopsis The Street Cleaner (1935) follows the daily routine of a dedicated street cleaner who, after his morning rounds, frequents a local noodle shop run by Il-hae. One fateful day, the street cleaner intervenes to protect Il-hae and his daughter from...

Direction Bang Han-jun

Cast Lee Geum-ryong · Jeon Ok · Kim Il-hae · Kim Han

Synopsis Dear Soldier (1944) is a film that portrays the sentiments of Korean parents as their sons are drafted into the Japanese military during World War II. This cinematic piece, commissioned by the Japanese government, showcases the pride and support of...

Direction Bang Han-jun

Cast Jeon Taek-yi · Yun-bong Choi · Hyeon Sun-yeong · Lee Baek-yeong

Synopsis An Altar for a Deity (1939) tells the story of a secluded couple residing in a mountain area, where they produce and sell charcoal. Each time the husband ventures into town for business, his wife visits a sacred altar dedicated...

Direction Ahn Seok-yeong

Cast Choi Woon-bong · Kim Il-hae · Lee Geum-ryong · Mun Ye-bong

Synopsis Volunteer (1941) follows the emotional journey of a young Korean man who is deeply troubled by the fact that his countrymen are not permitted to enlist in the Japanese Imperial Army. The narrative delves into his internal conflict and the...

Direction Choe In-Kyu

Cast Choe In-Kyu · Choe Dong-san · Choe Ji-ae · Jang Hwa-suk

Direction Gwang-je Seo

Cast Pyeong Wang · Mun Ye-bong · Jûshirô Kobayashi · Nobuko Sasaki

Synopsis Gun-yong-yeolcha (1938) follows the story of Jeom-yong Kim, portrayed by Pyeong Wang, a dedicated train conductor with a dream to operate a military train. His closest companion, Won-jin, played by Eun-gi Dog, shares his living space. The narrative takes a...

Direction Ahn Chul-yeong · Yasujirô Shimazu

Cast Yun Bug-yang · Gye Seong-ae · Park No-gyeong · Lee Hyeon

Synopsis Fisherman's Fire (1938) follows the life of Chun-sam, a fisherman who faces severe financial hardship due to a prolonged scarcity of fish. Desperate to repay his debt to Clerk Jang, Chun-sam ventures out to sea but meets a tragic end....

Direction Choe In-Kyu

Cast Kim Il-hae · Mun Ye-bong · Hong Eun-sun · Kim Shin-jae

Synopsis Homeless Angel (1941) follows the journey of Myeong-ja, a resilient flower seller in the bustling city of Seoul, and her younger brother Yong-pil, who are both left to fend for themselves after losing their parents. The siblings are taken under...

Direction Choe In-Kyu · Bang Han-jun

Cast Kenji Susukida · Jeong Chang-jo · Kim Jong-il · Lee Dong-seong

Synopsis Tuition (1940) chronicles the challenges faced by a young student named Young-Dal. The narrative delves into his relentless efforts to secure the necessary funds to support his educational journey, highlighting the obstacles and hardships he encounters along the way.

Direction Byoung-Wook Ahn · Kang Min-seong

Synopsis Larva Island (TV Series) (2018) follows the comedic adventures of two playful larva friends who find themselves marooned on a lush tropical island. Over the course of 26 episodes spread across two seasons, these mischievous duo encounter a variety of...

Direction Ahn Jong-hwa

Cast Lee Won-yong · Shin Il-seon · Kim Yeon-sil

Direction Choe In-Kyu

Cast Hwang Yeo-Heui · Jeon Chang-geun · Yu Gye-seon

Synopsis Hurrah! For Freedom (1946) chronicles the journey of a Korean patriot who fights against the Japanese occupation in 1945. This film holds historical significance as it is the first feature produced in Korea following the country's hard-won independence from Japan.

Direction Bang Han-jun

Cast Hyeon Sun-mi · Lee Geum-ryong · Yun Bong-chun · Yun-bong Choi

Synopsis The Han River (1938) follows the story of a young man whose life takes a dramatic turn when he defies his father's expectations. The son of a ferryman, he refuses to continue the family tradition of transporting people across the...

Direction Lee Kyu-Seol

Cast Lee Kyu-Sul · Bok Hae-Sook · Na Woon-Gyu · No Chap-Ryong

Synopsis Nongjungjo (1926) unfolds as a poignant melodrama centered around a pair of star-crossed lovers who face insurmountable obstacles due to the woman's overbearing parents. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the parents, driven by their rigid beliefs, confine their...

Direction Bang Han-jun

Cast Dok Eun-ki · Kim Il-hae · Seo Wol-yeong · Kim Shin-jae

Synopsis A Fish Tale (1944) follows the arduous voyage of a whaling ship as it pursues its prey across the vast ocean. The crew faces numerous challenges and hardships during their expedition. Throughout their journey, the sailors reminisce about their wives...

Direction Lee Byung-il

Cast Kim Il-hae · So-yeong Kim · Seo Wol-yeong · Ran Beak

Synopsis Spring on the Korean Peninsula (1941) follows the journey of an ambitious young filmmaker and his team as they endeavor to adapt the renowned Korean tale of Chunghyang for the silver screen. The director finds himself torn between two vastly...