Movie sheds light on Japanese occupation

Actors Song Kang-ho, left, and Gong Yoo, center, and actress Han Ji-min, starring “The Age of Shadows,” speak about their upcoming film during a news conference at CJ CGV’s Apgujeong theater in southern Seoul on Aug. 4. / Yonhap

'Age of Shadows' depicts independance fighter's struggle

By Park Jin-hai

The Japanese occupation (1910-1945) has recently emerged as a hot theme for moviemakers.

Since the huge success of the 2015 espionage action film “Assassination,” starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae, which attracted nearly 13 million viewers, filmmakers have found renewed interest in the Japanese occupation. This historical period was often portrayed from either the view of the ruling or the occupied in movies and that led to poor box office performances.

This year, “The Handmaiden” by Park Chan-wook, “Love, Lies” by Park Heung-sik and “The Last Princess” by Hur Jin-ho, all set amid the occupation, have hit local theaters and received great viewer responses.

Another film, “The Age of Shadows,” has been said to potentially match the success of “Assassination,” and awaits its opening.

Set in Shanghai and Seoul in the 1920s, “The Age of Shadows,” starring actors Song Kang-ho and Gong Yoo, tells the story of a Korean-born naturalized Japanese police officer who makes friends with the leader of a notorious Korean anti-Japanese resistance group called Uiyeoldan, with the purpose of gathering crucial information on the group.

Kim Jee-woon, director of the film, said that he always wanted to make a spy thriller and had thought that the Japanese occupation would be the ideal setting.

“I thought the occupation is the most ideal era for a Korean spy thriller," Kim said during a press conference for the film at CJ CGV's Apgujeong theater in southern Seoul, last week. “I wanted to feature the feud, appeasement and disturbance between the strongest Korean resistance group and the Japanese police officer who infiltrates the group to destroy it, in a tightly schemed story.”

Actor Song Kang-ho, who plays the Japanese officer, said, “Although it deals with painful history, it doesn't take a bipolar approach. It pays great attention to the chaos of the time and stands out from other occupation-era movies.”

Actor Gong Yoo, the star of the current local box office hit “Train to Busan,” plays the role of independance fighter Kim Woo-jin while actress Han Ji-min plays the only female member of the resistance group.

“The Age of Shadows” will hit the local theaters Sept. 7.