by Clarke Fountain
synopsis
After World War I, Japan set out to spread its influence over adjacent parts of Asia in whatever way it could. It conquered Manchuria and Korea and set up puppet governments throughout the entire region, including China. This highly successful and patriotic South Korean movie chronicles the development of the famed independence activist Kim Du-han, who was the son of an important independence fighter, a leading figure in the battles of that time. Beginning with scenes from his boyhood participation in native Korean gangs, the film contains lots of actions scenes, leading up to the time when Kim became a statesman who set the agenda for the newly liberated South Korea's relations with the rest of the world.
