Hurrah! For Freedom (자유만세)

This movie was produced in 1946, amid the hardships and difficulties that people were facing immediately after liberation,

and is a monumental project in the Korean film industry.

Twenty-nine years later, as the movement progressed

through violent conflicts such as the Korean War,

this film was miraculously kept in safekeeping.

Unfortunately, the complete version could not be saved

and a few scenes are missing from the film.

We ask for your understanding.

Production: Koryo Films, Inc.

Distribution: Dongshin Film Co.

Hurrah! For Freedom

Producer: Choi Wan-kyu

Playwright: Jeon Chang-geun Screenplay: Choi In-kyu

Director of Photography: Han Hyung-mo

Lighting: Kim Sung-choon Art: Jung Kyung-soon Sound: Jo Jong-gook Music: Jo Baek-bong

Starring

Jeon Chang-geun, Yoo Kye-sun, Kim Seung-ho

Bok Hye-sook, Han Eun-jin, Ha Yon-nam

Yoon Bong-choon, Kang Kye-shik, Jeon Taek-ee

Song Uk, Dok Woo-young, Kim Bok-ja

Director: Choi In-kyu

Let us reflect and gaze upon the the bloody traces left behind

by the revered patriots who gave their lives for our people.

August, 1945

Chang-geun!

Chang-geun!

Chang-geun!

I'm Nabe of the Provost Marshal Office.

Hello?

Anyone home? Sir?

He isn't here.

It's me! Han!

Mr. Choi!

Ma'am!

Han-joong!

You learned how to smoke, eh?

It's been so long since I've laid upon a covered floor.

I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Chang-geun is dead.

What? Chang-geun?

This bastard Nam-bu betrayed us.

He became an agent for the foreigners and is trying to kill us.

Now, after putting everything together, I'll dare say this.

The ultimate chance has come.

We must punish him in the name of our people.

Hey, turn off the lights!

Sons of bitches.

Han-joong...

Go to Hye-ja's house.

-Hye-ja? -Yes.

I know her very well.

-She's a nurse at the hospital. -Really?

She's a nice, responsible girl. You'll be safe there.

Nam-bu! Have you had dinner?

Son of a bitch!

You two fought again?

We're a match made in hell!

What's wrong?

I guess when two people become attached, there's just no way to pull them apart. Even if they hate each other...

Hey, sis.

Let me borrow two tea cups.

Don't worry about it.

Yu-ran...

Do you think it's a good idea for me to marry Nam-bu?

Didn't you two get married already?

Things are rough for me, too. How should I know what's bothering you?

I absolutely insist. We cannot miss this opportunity.

Our underground must be at the center. And even if it's just in Seoul,

we must start a rebellion.

But...

It's not as if the Japanese are going to surrender.

Should we have to go so far as starting a riot

and lose the precious lives of our fellow comrades?

If it means the collapse of the Japanese empire for a day...

No, an hour even. Then we must be prepared to do it.

This is the great mission that has been appointed to us.

And until the very end, we must be able to speak out

and heroically resist the Japanese empire and specifically express

what we, the Korean people, want to say.

I repeat, I absolutely insist.

A determined uprising by our people must happen now.

Let's blow up their armaments and railroad.

We can set fire to their settlements as well.

We must send out written appeals to our resistance to all 13 provinces.

Comrade Choi! I respect your passion.

However, a revolution isn't made just from mindless sacrifices.

For example...

For instance, look at the uprising from Bukgan-do.

Thousands of people were arrested

and even more precious lives were lost

on their scaffold.

We all know this.

But what has your great sacrifice

brought us exactly?

Absolutely nothing.

We can't continue to make these mindless sacrifices.

Then are you saying that our movement is a mindless sacrifice?

Yes!

Then do you think that if the Japanese lose the war

they'll let the Koreans who haven't cooperated up until now

just walk away?

History proves that a large-scale massacre is inevitable!

Remember the 1919 massacre, the Gan-do slaughter, the Dong-kyung killings!

I know that the massacre of Koreans

is a prearranged program of the Chosun army.

So you're saying that they'll butcher us.

Right, everyone?

Such uncertainties serve the invaders

If we have an excuse, it is that we are weak.

Then what do you have to say about Korean annexation? Or the Manchurian incident and the Sino-Japanese War?

I thought we had already made up our minds on this.

You're just looking to become a high government official and take all the credit once we get our independence.

Comrade Choi, say that again!

Hong!

I didn't mean what I said.

Han-joong!

Han-joong!

See who it is.

Give it here.

Choi, how was the meeting today?

Everyone swore to revolt.

But maybe they thought their lives were too precious... Today they all hesitated.

But we must stick to the plan

and make all the preparations to start the uprising.

So who caused the most problems?

We don't need to know that. What's the point?

You're right. It'll all come down to who will be willing to fight for his country.

They just see this revolution as an avenue to success and glory.

This is not the time to criticize someone else's words and deeds.

If that's not opposition, then what is it?

You can't speak hastily until you've seen the final result.

I was also very angry

and eventually left the meeting.

But I thought about it carefully on the way here,

and I realized that tolerance is something people who are willing to die for the truth have.

-Something has happened! -What is it?

Park and I went down there to get some dynamite.

We got caught by a soldier and Park is on his way to the marshal headquarters right now.

I stole a bike and rode it all the way over here.

He wouldn't have arrived already, right?

Right! I'm sure he hasn't reached the headquarters yet.

The knife!

You go ahead. I'll catch up with you later.

Have a seat.

You were chased by a soldier.

How do you know that?

Sit down.

If you're Korean, then you must help me.

Of course.

Thank you. Thank you

Who are you?

What do you mean who?

I'm Korean.

You're Choi Han-joong, right?

You think I'll hold onto you and not let you leave?

No, no. If I wanted to, I would've done so already.

But, I'm already...

I've already begun to lose interest.

When I asked the soldier...

It's because you believed me as a fellow Korean, no questions asked.

And you stroked my hair

and I saw your world for the first time.

Sir...

I felt something like this.

Just now...

The purer a person is, the greater is the deed that he can do.

And the greater a person is, the purer is the deed they can accomplish...

I'll be going then.

No, it's too dangerous now.

They're probably still patrolling the alley.

Sir, aren't you afraid to do things like that?

What can't one do for his love?

Korea is my love.

So, one must do everything for his love?

Who is it?

What's wrong, Yu-ran?

Who's that?

A friend from back home.

Can I borrow your tea cups?

He's come over again?

Yeah.

Oh, you.