Won Jin (Dog Eun-gi)
and Jum Young (Wang Pyeong) are not only roommates but
also the best of friends, and on top of that, Won Jin hopes to one day
marry Jum Young's sister Young Sim - which is where the problems start,
because Young Sim works at a geisha house, and the Madame refuses to let
her go if she isn't paid a large sum of money for her education, much more
than Jum Young, engineer of a military train, can afford. Then though, Won
Jin meets an old friend who offers him the money he needs just like that -
in return for a few military secrets of course Won Jin is to obtain from
Jum Young. Being loyal to the Japanese occupants, Won Jin refuses at first
of course, but his love to Young Sim is stronger and he gives in. Eventually,
Jum Young begins to suspect there's something fishy about Won Jin's
behaviour of late, and the story that the friend just gave him the money
for Young Sim's release doesn't ring true, either, but when Won Jin claims
there's nothing more to it, Jum Young believes him, because best friends
wouldn't lie to each other, now would they? One night, Won Jin is
overcome by guilt and confesses everything to Jum Young - who immediately
alarms the proper authorities, and a terrorist attack is prevented and Won
Jin's spy friend arrested. Won Jin feels so guilty though that he commits
suicide throwing himself in front of Jum Young's military train ... Now
there is something you don't see everyday: A Korean propaganda movie made
during the time of the Japanese occupation. Besides its interesting origin
and some fine camerawork though, the film has little interesting to offer:
The story is nothing but a derivative and cheesy melodrama, most of the
ation actually happens off-screen, and the rather beautiful titular
military train is unfortunately under-used in the film. Still,
interesting enough concerning its origin, and short enough (no 70 minutes)
to not outstay its welcome.
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