Herself
Keeping the Vision Alive is a documentary film containing the voices and images of Korean women filmmakers-both senior filmmakers and also the peers of director Yim. The film is Yim’s homage to both contemporary Korean women filmmakers, written by a filmmaker of the same age, and also to the history of women filmmakers in Korea. Yim does not reveal her own voice or opinion and lets the voices and images of the filmmakers speak for themselves through a non-interventionist camera. From the pioneers, Park Nam-ok, and Hwang Hye-mi, who directed First Experience in 70’s, to recent filmmakers, Byun Young-joo and Jang Hee-sun, the film traces their experiences, troubles, concerns and thoughts as women and women filmmakers. Keeping the Vision Alive calmly and enthusiastically encourages and celebrates the struggles, the resistance and the survival of women filmmakers in a conservative Korean film industry and a male-dominated and sexist social system. (Kwon Eun-sun)
Forced to leave their home because of the construction of a new dam which will flood their village, the eldest son in the family prepares land and money to construct a new house in Seoul for his family. However, he shirks his duty shortly after and leaves overseeing the construction of the house to his younger brother while he goes to live seperately.
Grand Madam
An attractive young woman has been called on to help rid a haunted family of its demons - the male heirs all die young, and one is now in a coma - she has to clear the environment where several exorcists have failed before her.
During the Korean War in early 1950s, mother’s family comes and stays at Dong-man’s house. His uncle on father’s side is a North Korean partisan and the uncle on mother’s side dies while fighting as South Korean soldier. For this reason, his grandmothers don’t get alone. Dong-man tells a stranger that his partisan uncle is home and his father gets arrested.
Kim Hee-Gap and his wife Hwang come to visit their five sons living in Seoul. They move from one son's to other son's, not being able to take nagging of some daughter-in-law or the ill-nature of some grandchildren. One day after they experienced lots of incidents and troubles, their five sons and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren gather to enjoy the family party. The old couple leave Seoul, getting pleased with their sons' love for them.
Recently released from prison, Cheol-ho is expelled from his brother's house after he beats his sister-in-law. His brother decides that the family would be better off if Cheol-ho were dead and tries to arrange it.
Seok-Bong, a lowly man, goes to Seoul to study, but in the end gives up his study. On his way back to his hometown he gets to know Ok-Yeo and makes love to her. Ok-Yeo gets disappointed to know her future spouse is Hwang Seok-Bong, a noble man, not that Seok-Bong she made love to. Hwang drives Seok-Bong away, getting to know Ok-Yeo's relationship with him. Seok-Bong dies on Ok-Yeo's wedding day. On her first night of marriage Ok-Yeo hears Seok-Bong's voice that says she should kill Hwang. Ok-Yeo, stabbing Hwang with a knife, falls over the precipice. Seok-Bong mother Hyeon was laughing crazily there.
Four short stories examing the lives of women in the last 18th and 19th century Story 1: 'Wives Should Be Submissive'--A father tries to marry his daughter into a wealthy family. Story 2: 'A Daughter-In-Law Is No Better Than A Stranger'--A woman thinks that her daughter-in-law has turned her son against her so she tries to kill the younger woman. Story 3: '7 Grounds For Divorce'--A wife begins an affair with her servant because of her husband's impotency Story 4: 'Prohibit Sex In Court'--A concubine's life is at risk when it is revealed that her infant child is not the king's.
Yun, la belle-mère
A young bride moves into her husband's family and tries to modernize their lifestyle. Her plans, though, often get discouraged by her mother-in-law, a conservative lady who stresses traditional values. But the bride's father-in-law who understands the charms of her daughter-in-law's modern lifestyle, helps her to get what she wants. Eventually, they become one happy family living a modern lifestyle.
As the daughter-in-law of a prestigious family, she had to live in a tearful marriage with strict mother-in-law and a young husband. Her husband, who had grown up in the meantime, returned home with a Japanese woman on her way home from studying abroad, and demanded a divorce from her. Her wife complies with her husband's request and agrees to her divorce, but when the Japanese woman learns that he is her husband, she returns to Japan. He is not healthy from drinking too much, but her wife is devoted to her husband, and only then does her husband shed tears of penance in front of her.
The film, which was shot to promote the Korean air force team, depicts the story of air force students who are assigned to their base after hard training.
Chang-hoon's mother
A couple of poor lovers has to break up as the woman cannot but marring a son of a rich family. Disappointed, the man goes to Seoul and becomes a big star singer. On the other hand, she lives an unhappy life since her husband is addicted to gambling. Hearing the bad news he comes back to his hometown to persuade her husband and his friends to stop gambling. As they do not accept his advice he makes them give in by force. Then he goes back to Seoul praying for her happiness.
During a concert in Japan a singer encounters his childhood sweetheart and their old love is rekindled with new passion. However their love is a problem for the singer because he is already engaged to the daughter of his mentor.
A remake of 20th Century Fox’s Over the Hill [1931]. A father of three sons sells his properties to pay for tuitions of his two sons who study in Seoul. But he is indifferent to his youngest son. One day the youngest son witnesses his father stealing money, and takes the fall for his. The eldest son later marries a daughter of a rich family, neglecting his father; the second son becomes a poor artist. Time goes by; the father dies. After being released from prison, the youngest son goes to Vietnam to make money to support his mother, who was put in a nursing home after suffering mistreatment from eldest son. When the youngest son comes back from Vietnam he spurs anger on his brothers. The brothers soon reflect on their past, and live happily ever after.
A doctor is shocked to learn that his girlfriend had formerly been the mistress of a married man.
The only son of a government official Yun loves Ok-hwa, the daughter of former gisaeng Gye-seon. But his father doesn't feel good about having a daughter of a former gisaeng as his daughter-in-law. He matches him instead with the only daughter of another official. Soon, Ok-hwa dies of lovesickness missing Yun so much. The ghost of her appears to Yun, who betrayed her and married another woman, to make him repent for his fault.
Ms. Choi [Sa Wol's mother]
In this melodrama, a man in a village in Jirisan hides a Communist soldier who has sneaked into the area. A widow, finding the soldier in the bamboo grove, visits him and carries on a sexual relationship with him. Then she discovers she is pregnant...
An old couple who has a son and six daughters launch a journey to visit them around the nation as the seven children live throughout the country. During the nation-wide travel, they witness the modernization of Korea and feel satisfied with the children contributing to the national modernization directly or indirectly.
A grandfather, his son, and grandson are all henpecked husbands. A comedy picturing these three henpecked men's lives at one family.
Mrs. Hwang
Confession of an Actress is about an actor who was once a famous star. He had a daughter with an actress who he loved when he was young. His daughter became a grownup and he sacrificed himself secretly to make his daughter a star.
Lee Sa-gam
It is the year of the white horse that arrives every sixty years. Three women avoid sleeping with their husbands so they won't conceive girls on the year of the horse. However, young and healthy husbands fall into great dilemma.
Seong-goo's mother
A remote fishing island is home to a largely female-population. Men are frequently lost to the ocean as stubbornly going out to sea in the face of great danger. Young widows are made and quickly learn the hardships of life.
CHOI Eun-hee’s directorial debut The Girl Raised as a Future Daughter-In-Law is the story of ups and downs of a future daughter-in-law who, due to poverty, married an infant rich groom. A ruined widow’s daughter Jum-soon has no time to rest, as her mother-in-law treats her like a maid, leaving her with all the kitchen chores, house cleaning, grinding grain, and sewing, while the mother-in-law smokes a pipe and nitpicks on her. What allows Jum-soon to endure is her ‘duty as a woman’ taught to her since young and her child husband’s lovable yammering.
A Korean family is separated during the Japanese colonial period and end up in different parts of Asia, and on different sides of the Korean Civil War.
A woman is in domestic service after going up to Seoul. She loves a university student of a rich family and gives birth to a baby. But his parents object to their marriage, so she becomes a butt for laugh. At length, the parents get impressed by her good nature and allow them to marry.
South Korean Air Force pilots engage in perilous missions against Communist North Koreans during the Korean War.
Madame Freedom
A madam works at a brothel in Busan and raises three daughters. She sacrifices herself in hopes of her daughter’s futures, but tragic events occur.
While the students, full of vigor at twenties, always make a stand against their parents who regard the date as a sin, they enjoy their springtime of life to the full showing affection in their own way. In the meantime, their parents get to understand them and their children meet their own partner in blessing.
After an aggressive man lets his anger get the better of him, his wife takes her own life and he is forced to go on the run. The son he leaves behind grows up to have 4 daughters, but there is rumored to be a curse on his family. As the daughters find their way into relationships the curse seems to be true. Allegations of child murder, infidelity, forced into marriages with raging psychopaths.
When two wives realize that their wealthy and otherwise upstanding husbands have mistresses, they invite the 'other women' to stay in their houses for awhile. Realizing that they are breaking up happy families, the girls eventually agree to give up the married men.
Gota-so (Pom-seok's wife)
His parents captured by the Baekje armies, prince Eo-jin infiltrates the enemy castle alone to seek revenge. His plot is ruined when he falls in love with a princess there and is forced to choose between betraying his parents and nation or the woman he loves.
Ho Sung Mo
One father finds life nearly impossible to live as he attempts to raise his nine children on a pitifully small salary.
Mr. Yoon (Sukjo's wife)
"A Long Goodbye" - Taken in by an elderly woman and raised as her own, a boy spends all his days dreaming of the time when he can be reunited with his lost parents.
Jun-rye (Young-woo's mother)
Patriotic university student Youngwoo and his friends, led by their teacher Lee Sung, along with a British friend bid farewell to their families and become freedom fighters in Manchuria fighting against the Japanese occupation around the Tumen River.
Nurse
Jinsa Maeng's daughter is contracted to marry a nobleman's son, however, Jinsa Maeng is upset when he hears about a rumor that the fiance of his daughter is lame. Finally, he decides to take on the idea of arranging his maid to take his daughter's place in the wedding.
Yunbi
Prince Yeonsan-gun turns into a tyrant out of grief for his mother's death. He orders beheadings of all the officials who displease him or who advised the previous king to depose the queen. He becomes crueler by the day. But in 10th year of his reign, he is kicked out of the throne and dies a tragic death.
Mrs. Gyebi Yoon
A historical drama about Yeonsangun of Joseon as a prince trying to restore the status of his mother, the deposed and executed Queen Yun.
Jeom-rye's mother
An oriental doctor Kim Hak-gyu is a cantankerous man who is the longest-term householder in a small village in Seoul. He often causes domestic trouble by being nasty to his wife and his children. Kim Hyeon-ok, a daughter of a young widow who runs Nahana Beauty Shop, is in love with Choi Du-yeol, an obstetrician across the street. Kim Hak-gyu has great distaste for western medicine, and at the same time, is jealous of the obstetrician. He always gets in the way of Choi Du-yeol. Kim's son, Hyeon-gu, dates Jeom-ryae, a daughter of a bar owner.
Hungu's mother
A brigade of five marines are sent on a dangerous mission to capture an enemy stronghold during the Korean War.
Mrs. Lee (Wife of Jun-taek Koo)
When his wife sees him helping his boss' lover, a low-level manager finds his marriage in shambles
Suwondaek
A man tries to raise his two sons and two daughters under some of the most adverse conditions known to man. The father operates a horse-drawn cart, but in a city that is modernizing after the destruction of the Korean War, automobiles are making carts obsolete. The children are experiencing difficulties as well. The eldest son has flunked the bar exam twice and is not hopeful of passing it a third time to become a lawyer. The eldest daughter is mute and married to an abusive husband. The younger daughter tries to pose as a rich university student to move up in life. The youngest son has a penchant for petty theft.
Jang (Madam Seo-Bang Park)
Mr. Park raises his children by repairing charcoal pits. Although ignorant and stubborn, Mr. Park has a good heart. He is displeased, however, with his eldest daughter, Yong-sun (Jo Mi-ryeong), because of her close relationship with Jae-cheon (Hwang hae), who is a scamp in his eyes. He is also unsatisfied with his second daughter, Myeong-sun (Eom Aeng-ran), for liking Ju-sik (Bang Su-il). Only his eldest son, Yong-beom (Kim Jin-gyu), is the apple of his eye, as he approves of his son's wife, Jeom-rye (Kim Hye-jeong). When Yong-beom is sent to a foreign branch office, Mr. Park is against it at first but approves of it, as he knows what it means for his son's future. Eventually, too, he begins to approve of his two daughters' relationships.
Hyun Ok-gyeong
Heo Seung, who states that he was “born from soil, will live in soil, and die in soil”, becomes a lawyer in Seoul. However when villagers in his hometown are imprisoned for protesting against Japanese oppression, he decides to return to his village and rediscovers the true way to help his country.
The life of Lee Seung-man, a freedom fighter who struggled to liberate Korea from Japanese rule.
Upon hearing that her fiance has been killed in battle, a woman makes her way to the Park Pagoda to seek comfort from the monument. There she becomes acquainted with Henry Jang, a Korean-American whom she eventually marries. There is no happy ending for the two, however, because her fiance shows up alive and well, but bitter over his lover's fickle nature
A 10-year old girl in a mining town, separated from her family, keeps a diary which becomes a best-seller.
Choi Eui-suk (Choi Jae-hyung's daughter)
At the end of the Joseon Dynasty, shortly after the Eulsa Treaty has been forced to be concluded by Ito Hirobumi and the pro-Japanese courtiers, Japan pressures King Gojong to step down from the throne. Meanwhile, An Jung-geun, who is cultivating men of ability at Samheung school, is deeply impressed by a speech made by An Chang-ho, and heads for Russia to volunteer the army fighting for independence of the country. As both a lieutenant general of the Korean militia and a commander of the Korean expeditionary force in Manchuria, he carries on the independence movement in defiance of Japanese coercion.
Yeo Pi-go
Choi So-young (Choi Eun-hee), a poor female law student is in trouble because her grandmother, who had been sending her tuition money, passes away. With the help of her friend Hee-suk, (Kim Suk-il) who dreams of becoming a writer, So-young fools Choi Rim (Kim Seung-ho), a lawmaker, into believing she is his daughter and moves in his house.
Eok-jo's wife
The Money is about a poor farmer whose bid for a better life ends up bringing calamity to his family. At the urging of loan shark Eok Jo (Choi Nam Hyun), Bong Su (Kim Seung Ho) sells his cows to start a business but he loses everything to a conman (No Kyung Hee). Bong Su accidentally kills Eok Jo in a fight and takes his money, and the police trace the crime back to Bong Su's son.
가매 역
Kim Byeong Yeon's grandfather Kim Ik Soon is the person who surrendered to Hong Gyeong Rae's birth. As a result, Byeong Yeon did not get a job title even though he had the Jangwon grade system. Frustrated, he puts on a hat and begins a wandering life. Wherever Kim Satgat goes, poems containing satire and ridicule about the world remain.
Adada's poor husband suddenly strikes it rich. He changes his hovel for a beautiful home, but his character changes as well. He becomes overly proud and shows off his wealth. Adada, despising the money and what it has done to her husband, throws their savings into the river