Synopsis

Nam Chang-hoon (Nam Jin) and Jung-hee (Moon Hee) are poor lovers. Jung-hee marries Soon-gil (Kim Sung-ok), the son of a wealthy family, for her father's sake. On the day Jeong-hee gets married, Chang-hoon also leaves for Seoul. In Seoul, Chang-hoon gets a job as an employee at a beer hall. Madame Yoon Kyung (Bang Sung-ja) introduces him to composer Baek Min (Eh Yoon-gil), and Chang-hoon becomes very successful as a singer. By chance, Chang-hoon hears about Jeong-hee. Soon-gil, who was abusive from the first night, has since gambled away his fortune and Jeong-hee has prayed to commit suicide. Troubled by her unhappiness, Chang-hoon gives up on his future as a singer and returns to his hometown.

Program Note

The 1960s and 70s were a time when the Korean music and movie industries sought a win-win situation. Popular pop songs became the theme songs for movies, and movie theme songs were released as albums, creating synergy between the two industries and driving sales. “Hometown Moojung” capitalizes on Nam-jin's star power as he has risen to the top of both the music and movie industries. The popularity of Oh Ki-Taek's “Hometown Heartlessness” and Cha Jung-Rak's “The End of Love” are important vehicles for revealing the psychology of the film's protagonist, Chang-Hoon. There are many elements of the movie that might be considered neo-fascist and gender-biased at this point in time, but it is also a reminder that it is the most transparent mirror of the society of the time. (Meng Soo-jin)

Director

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  • Park Jong-ho