Screenplay
Following the death of his parents, Yeong-cheol shines shoes in the streets, struggling to care for his sick younger sister Yeong-hui and make ends meet. Despite the persuasive efforts of low-life criminal boss Wang-cho, pickpocket Jjang-gu, and prostitute Mi-hwa, Yeong-cheol vows to lead an honest life by looking after Yeong-hui with cigarette salesgirl Myeong-sun and helping newly arrived shoeshine boy Dong-seok settle in. However, a tragic accident forces Yeong-cheol to make an important decision that may change his life. ※ Sharing the same Korean title with Vittorio De Sica’s classic Shoeshine (1946), this film was noted at the time of release for its strong neorealistic approach. All of the picture elements have been lost and only 4 original sound negative reels (around 40 minutes) survive today. The plot summary and scene descriptions have been added in the form of title cards as well as a selection of production stills to aid the viewing experience.
Yoon-he's mother
About the heroic struggle of young Korean patriots against the Japanese invaders in 1930.
Ki-saeng's mother
The film tells about the life and struggle of the Korean peasants living on the Phundekber plain, near the 38th parallel, against the Americans and the Lisinman people. The film is set in 1950.
Pil-nyeo Lee
The plot revolves around a pair of hunters, Moonil Lee and Sun-deok Kim, who wage an armed struggle to defend their homeland during the war on the Korean Peninsula (1950-1953).
