Synopsis

​ 1636, Injo 14, Byeongja Horan. When a large Qing army attacks, the king and his ministers flee the enemy and take refuge in Mountains of South Korea. Cold, hungry, and completely surrounded by the Qing army with an absolute military disadvantage, the ministers' opinions are sharply divided. Choi Myeong-gil, a Yijo scribe, urges them to endure the disgrace of the moment and protect their country and people, and Kim Sang-heon, a Yejo scribe, urges them to defend the cause by fighting the Qing's shameful attack to the end. In the meantime, Injo's troubles deepen, and the Qing's unreasonable demands and pressure intensify... With nowhere to go and nowhere to retreat, the fate of the isolated mountainous country of South Korea is trapped there.

Program Note

​ This hidden masterpiece is a collaboration between director Hwang Dong-hyuk, famous for the series Squid Game, and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, who participated in a Korean film for the first time as a music composer. Upon receiving director Hwang's suggestion, Ryuichi Sakamoto was introduced to traditional Korean musical instruments and began working on the composition with young Korean musicians. Although King Injo kneels before the Qing Khan and the people are scattered in search of their own paths, the original soundtrack melodies by Sakamoto convey the determination of the characters to overcome adversity and live their lives, even through the music. (Huh Namwoong)

Director

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  • Donghyuk Hwang
  • Hwang Dong-hyuk is a film director who made his debut with the film My Father in 2007. He gained both critical acclaim and commercial success with films such as Silenced(2011), Miss Granny(2014) and The Fortress(2017). He has established himself as a successful director with his artistic vision and box office achievements. His global recognition soared with the Netflix original series Squid Game(2021), which garnered immense popularity worldwide and drew global attention to his work.