Anarchist from Colony

Anarchist from Colony is a 2017 South Korean historical biographical film directed by Lee Joon-ik and written by Jeon Hyeon-jin. The robust casting includes high-ranked actors like Lee Jehoon, Hee-Seo Choi, and Soo-Jang Baek. Set sophisticatedly in the early 1920s, the film takes its viewers on a historical journey through the Japanese colonisation of Korea, boldly exposing the intricacies of colonial dominance, subjugation, and the inexorable cry for freedom.

Our protagonist, Park Yeol, portrayed masterfully by Lee Jehoon, is a historic figure in Korea's independence movement. He is depicted as a fiery, witty, and charismatic Korean anarchist who uses wit and sarcasm to handle even the most perilous situations. His incurable patriotism and unyielding spirit serves to galvanize Korean nationals living under oppressive Japanese colonial rule.

Hee-Seo Choi illuminates the screen as Fumiko Kaneko, a revolutionary Japanese woman who shares Park Yeol's love for anarchy. Choi's performance seamlessly traverses the spectrum of a woman who is staunch, fearless, and subtly sensitive at times. The growing romance between Park and Fumiko is captivating and powerfully portrayed, forming an indispensable part of the narrative and providing an earthly grounding to their heroic aspirations.

Along with the lead actors, the film boasts a distinctly chiseled character in Soo-Jang Baek. Baek, in the role of an investigative officer who possesses an intriguing combination of grudging respect and veiled hostility for Park, adds an interesting and sometimes light-hearted flavor to the otherwise heavy storyline.

The cinematic plot is undoubtedly thick with political overtones and societal observations. However, a salient feature of Anarchist from Colony is its ability to retain an element of light-hearted humor amidst the backdrop of a grave historical revolution. Lee Joon-ik brilliantly strikes a balance between the tragic reality of a colonized people and the inherent comedy that emerges from their audacious, life-affirming spirit.

The film opens with an alleged plot to assassinate the Japanese Crown Prince, where Park Yeol and Fumiko are framed as the primary suspects. It then evolves into a tense and gripping courtroom drama, where the obscured historical facts take center stage, making the audience question the notion of justice. However, this film does more than simply recount the infamous trial, it delves deeper to present a vivid tapestry of Korean resistance during the colonial period.

Elaborately dressed in the period-appropriate costume design, the visual storytelling of Anarchist from Colony is breathtaking. The grimy realities of the colonized Seoul streets, the intellect-heavy courtroom sessions, and the intimate, low-lit scenes between Park and Fumiko all showcase the cinematic sophistication of the film.

The film also has an intriguing linguistic dimension. Anchoring the film's emotional realism is the dexterous use of Korean and Japanese languages, which the characters navigate with ease. The switching and blending of two languages not only represent the cultural milieu of colonial Korea but also reinforce the historically-fractious relationship between Korea and Japan.

Aside from its realistic plot and compelling performances, the film's background score also deserves praise. The music contributes to the narrative's different moods – discordant and confrontational in the courtrooms, melancholic during times of suffering, and passionately defiant during the characters' rebel moments.

While dwelling on a slice of history hitherto unfamiliar to many, Anarchist from Colony adopts a humanistic approach toward the socio-political dynamics of that era. The film manages to humanize the historical figures, giving them depth and dimension rather than merely showcasing them as revolutionary icons. This introspective lens invites the audience to connect with the characters, their experiences, and their ardent struggle for freedom.

Anarchist from Colony is not just a historical drama. It delves deep into the characters' lives, their motivations, and their dreams while shedding light on a pivotal time in Korean history. The film's capacity to entertain, educate and inspire, makes it a gem within the realm of international cinema. For enthusiasts of historical drama and those inquisitive about times past, Anarchist from Colony is indeed a potent cinematic ride, which leaves a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of its viewers.