Sweet Dream

The oldest Korean film to be preserved as of 2008, Sweet Dream was deemed shocking and revelatory for its time. Set during the colonial period when Korea was teetering on the cusp of western-influenced modernization, first-time director Yang tells a story about a modern woman who rebels against the patriarchal Korean society. The film also shows the burgeoning city of Kyungsung (now Seoul) en route to metropolitan modernization, and stars Mun Ye Bong, the most in-demand actress during colonial times, who later went on to become a top actress in North Korea. Interestingly, Sweet Dream is Korea's first traffic safety film - an attempt to heighten awareness of the dangers of road vehicles during a a time when few cars existed on the streets. Tired of being caged all her life, housewife Ae Sun (Mun Ye Bong) neglects her young daughter and indulges herself in luxurious fashion items. She eventually abandons her husband and her child and lives in a hotel with her lover. But her newfound freedom brings misfortunes when she finds out that her lover isn't the rich man she knew him to be, but a low-life thief. Infuriated, Ae Sun calls the police and offers them tips about his whereabouts. Just then, she gets in a cab and asks the driver to speed to the train station, but the driver ends up hitting a girl. What's worse is that the girl turns out to be none other than Ae Sun's own daughter.