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Anarchist from Colony
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
박열
Hanja
朴烈
RRBak Yeol
MRPak Yŏl
Directed byLee Joon-ik
Written byHwang Seong-gu
Produced byKim Sung-cheol
StarringLee Je-hoon
Choi Hee-seo
CinematographyPark Sung-joo
Music byBang Jun-seok
Kang Eun-koo
Distributed byMegabox Plus M
Release date
  • June 28, 2017 (2017-06-28)
Running time
129 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguagesKorean
Japanese
Box officeUS$16.9 million[1]

Anarchist from Colony (Korean: 박열) is a 2017 South Korean biographical period drama film directed by Lee Joon-ik about the life of independence activist Pak Yŏl, with Lee Je-hoon taking on the title role.[2][3][4] It premiered in South Korea on June 28, 2017.[5][6][7]

Plot

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Park Yeol (Pak Yŏl) is the leader of the anarchist group Bulryeongsa, which has 14 Korean and five Japanese members. He seems like an easygoing, courageous and disobedient young man who never troubles others. His partner Fumiko is a strong and intelligent woman who appears to be positive with a sense of humor. The film shows the anarchist group Heukdohoe (which goes by multiple names) discussing their methods for resisting the Japanese harassment against Koreans. Park Yeol, as the leader of this group, plots a bombing against Prince Hirohito. Then, the Kanto Earthquake of 1923 hits Japan, leaving the city in ruin. In the film, Former Minister of Affairs Mizuno suggests that Koreans had been poisoning water wells and setting the city on fire following the earthquake. He promotes an idea that Japanese patriots go out and enact revenge; it is highly hinted at that he only wants this to enact revenge against Koreans following the March First Movement, where Korean anarchists made a rebellious stance against Japanese imperialism.

Following this, the Kanto Massacre occurs, where over 6000 Koreans were massacred by Japanese vigilantes. In order to cover up the massacre, Mizuno focusses on Yeol and his organization's activities. Because they are self-proclaimed anarchists, he looks to trying them for crimes against Japan to minimize discussions about the massacre, eventually focusing on Yeol's plot against Hirohito. The following trial highlights how Yeol and Kaneko made a mockery of the Japanese government and imperialist ways. They discuss their desire for the Japanese people to become disillusioned from the imperial family's godly power over the nation. They note that in this way, equality between classes and peoples can occur; they also discuss how they are well aware their trial is meant to cover up the Korean Massacre and will do everything they can to prevent this. Underlying these beliefs are the intense moments of their companionship and love that center on their shared desire for revolution.

The film ends showing the guilty verdict Kaneko and Yeol faced, and how they narrowly avoided the death sentence. Once the two are separated, Kaneko mysteriously dies in prison from supposed suicide, though none of the Heukdohoe believe this—they fully believe she was murdered. They go to retrieve her body, and Yeol is said to have been released from prison after occupation ended in 1946. The final shot shows the film's picture of Yeol and Kaneko and then the real one fading out to black.

Cast

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Background

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The film is based on the true story of the anarchist and revolutionary Pak Yŏl (Lee Je-hoon), who organizes the anarchist group Futei-sha [ko] (in Korean "Heukdohoe"), which planned to assassinate Japan's Crown Prince Hirohito during Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The movie also highlights the relationship between Park and his lover Kaneko Fumiko (Choi Hee-seo), a Japanese nihilist who sympathized with Koreans oppressed under Japanese rule.

The Kanto Massacre that took the lives of over 6000 Koreans began from rumors the Hongō Komagome police heard about Koreans poisoning wells and starting fires.[11]

Korean anarchism is largely understood as a reaction to the Japanese imperialism and anarchist ideas coming from Chinese and Japanese students.[12] Korean anarchism always placed freedom from Japanese imperialism first. As nationalism influenced anarchism so did the ideology of socialist revolution creating a more equal world.[13]

Production

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Conception and Screenplay

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Director Lee Joon-ik stated that he first encountered the figure of Park Yeol and became deeply intrigued by him while conducting research for the 2000 film Anarchists, during which he learned about many unsung independence activists.[14] He subsequently conducted further research based on Shoji Yamada’s Biography of Kaneko Fumiko, requesting articles from major Japanese media outlets—such as the Asahi Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun—regarding the actual trials faced by Park Yeol and Fumiko. Explaining his meticulous attention to historical accuracy, Director Lee noted, "Since they were real people, I felt it was more important to create a film faithful to their values ​​and lives rather than simply adding entertainment value."[3] He also mentioned that he wanted the film to be credible to Japanese audiences, adding, "Through historical accuracy, I wanted to portray a human being who confronts the contradictions and injustices of Japanese imperialism using reason and logic."[14]

Filming

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With a net production budget of 2.6 billion won, Anarchist from Colony (originally titled Park Yeol) is considered a low-budget film.[15] This was a deliberate choice by Director Lee Joon-ik; the story of Park Yeol and Fumiko was not intended to be a visual spectacle, but rather a work that conveyed the sincerity of the individual characters. Lee explained, "I could have depicted the earthquake on a grand scale, but doing so might have hindered the audience from connecting with the protagonists' inner lives."[15] Filming took place over six weeks, spanning a total of 24 shooting days. Although the film is set primarily in Tokyo, Japan, not a single scene was shot on location there.[15]

Casting

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Lee Je-hoon was cast as Park Yeol, the film's protagonist and the character for whom the movie is named. Director Lee Joon-ik remarked that "the nervous tension Lee Je-hoon feels as an actor resonates with the fiery passion possessed by Park Yeol." It was Choi Hee-seo who recommended Lee Je-hoon for the role of Park Yeol, noting that "his sharp gaze overlapped with the image of Park Yeol."[16] Choi Hee-seo was cast as Kaneko Fumiko, Park Yeol's comrade and lover. Although she had previously appeared in Director Lee Joon-ik's film Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet, this marked her first time in a leading role. She was selected for the lead due to her exceptional Japanese language proficiency and outstanding acting ability; Director Lee explained that "there was no alternative to Choi Hee-seo for the role of Kaneko Fumiko."[16]

Kim In-woo, a third-generation Korean-Japanese actor, was cast as Mizuno Rentaro, the Home Minister who orchestrates the fabrication of the Korean riot and the Park Yeol incident; several other Japanese actors were also cast. Notably, many members of the Tokyo-based theater troupe "Shinjuku Ryozanpaku" appeared in the film, with the troupe's representative, Kim Su-jin, taking on the role of the judge who sentences Park Yeol and Fumiko to death.[16]

Reception

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The film topped the box office during its opening weekend, earning US$5.9 million with 817,971 admissions.[17][dead link][18] By the end of two weeks since the film was released, it has earned US$12.36 million in total.[19] Upon its release, it overtook Real to claim the number one spot at the box office.[20] The film earned a total of US$16.1 million after one month run.[21] In total, the film accrued 2.36 million admissions, equivalent to US$16.53 million.[22]

The film was released in Los Angeles and Buena Park, California, also in Dallas, Texas in the United States.[23]

Shim Sun-ah of Yonhap News Agency gave the film a mixed review, criticizing the character development and pacing, describing the film as "a stark contrast to director Lee's hit film "Dongju; The Portrait of A Poet." Shim concluded the review by writing: "At least the film isn't cliche or overly dramatic. And that's the strong point of the fact-based film. However, without any spectacular action sequences, stunning visuals or cinematography - elements present in other films set in the colonial period such as "Assassination" (2015) and "The Age of Shadows" (2016) - "Anarchist from Colony" just feels like healthy but tasteless food, overall."[24]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
26th Buil Film Awards Best Film Anarchist From Colony Nominated [25]
Best Director Lee Joon-ik Nominated
Best Actor Lee Je-hoon Nominated
Best New Actor Kim Jun-han Nominated
Best New Actress Choi Hee-seo Won
Best Screenplay Hwang Seong-gu Won
54th Grand Bell Awards Best Film Anarchist from Colony Nominated [26]
Best Director Lee Joon-ik Won
Best Actor Lee Je-hoon Nominated
Best Actress Choi Hee-seo Won
Best Supporting Actor Kim In-woo Nominated
Best New Actor Kim Jun-han Nominated
Best New Actress Choi Hee-seo Won
Best Planning Anarchist from Colony Nominated
Best Art Direction Lee Jae-seong Won
Best Screenplay Hwang Seong-gu Nominated
Best Music Bang Jun-seok Nominated
Best Costume Design Shim Hyun-sup Won
37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best New Actress Choi Hee-seo Won [27]
Best Screenplay Hwang Seong-gu Won
Top 10 Films of the Year Anarchist from Colony Won
1st The Seoul Awards Best Film Won [28]
Best New Actor Kim Jun-han Nominated
Best New Actress Choi Hee-seo Won
18th Busan Film Critics Awards Won [29]
38th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film Anarchist from Colony Nominated [30]
Best Director Lee Joon-ik Nominated
Best New Actor Kim Jun-han Nominated
Best New Actress Choi Hee-seo Won
Best Screenplay Hwang Seong-gu Nominated
Technical Award Shim Hyun-seop (Costumes) Nominated
17th Director's Cut Awards Special Mentions Anarchist from Colony Won [31]
Best New Actress Choi Hee-seo Won
12th Asian Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressNominated [32]
Best ScreenplayHwang Seong-guNominated
Best Costume DesignShim Hyun-supNominated
9th KOFRA Film AwardsBest New ActressChoi Hee-seoWon [33]
54th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Film Anarchist from ColonyNominated [34][35]
Best Actress Choi Hee-seoNominated
Best New Actor Kim Jun-hanNominated
Best New Actress Choi Hee-seoWon
Best Screenplay Hwang Seong-guNominated
23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Director Lee Joon-ik Nominated [36][37]
Best Screenplay Hwang Seong-gu Nominated
Best New Actor Kim Jun-han Nominated
Best New Actress Choi Hee-seo Won
1st Resistance Film Festival in Korea Best Director Lee Joon-ik Won [38]
Best Actor Lee Je-hoon Won
Best Actress Choi Hee-seo Won
38th Golden Cinema Film Festival Won [32]
Cine 21 Awards Best New Actress Won [39]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Anarchist from Colony". Korean Film Biz. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  2. ↑ Yoon Hyo-jung (2017-05-25). "'박열' 이준익 감독 "가네코, 박열에 동거 제안 장면.. 걱정 많았다"" [Director Lee Joon-ik of *Anarchist from Colony*: "I was very worried about the scene where Kaneko proposes living together to Park Yeol."]. 뉴스1 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  3. 1 2 Kim Hee-sun (2017-05-25). "이제훈 "'박열' 모습 보여주려 촬영 내내 굶었다"" [Lee Je-hoon: "I Starved Myself Throughout Filming to Embody the Look of 'Park Yeol'"]. 연합뉴스 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  4. ↑ Ko Chung-yeol (2017-07-03). "영화 이 다루지 못한, 박열의 뒷이야기" [The untold story of Park Yeol—beyond the movie]. 오마이뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  5. ↑ Conran, Pierce (28 October 2016). "LEE Joon-ik Preps New Period Biopic". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 Lee, Soon-ki (12 January 2017). [공식입장] 이준익 새 뮤즈 이제훈 확정..'박열', 9일 크랭크인 [[Official Statement] Lee Je-hoon Confirmed as Director Lee Joon-ik's New Muse... 'Anarchist from Colony' Begins Filming on the 9th]. OSEN (in Korean).
  7. ↑ "[Herald Interview] Viewing history through an anarchist's eyes: Director Lee Joon-ik". Korea Herald. 26 June 2017.
  8. ↑ 05월 22일 05시 20분 OCN 방영 영화 '박열', 이제훈x최희서 주연 [Movie *Anarchist from Colony* (starring Lee Je-hoon and Choi Hee-seo) airs on OCN on May 22 at 5:20 AM]. Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Conran, Pierce (3 January 2017). "Gwon Yool, Min Jin-woong and More Join Park Yeol". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Kil, Sonia (16 February 2018). "Actress Choi Hee-seo Looks Forward to a Promising Career". Variety.
  11. ↑ Ryang, Sonia (2003). "The Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre of Koreans in 1923: Notes on Japan's Modern National Sovereignty". Anthropological Quarterly. 76 (4): 733. doi:10.1353/anq.2003.0061. JSTOR 3318287.
  12. ↑ Hwang, Dongyoun (2011-01-01), "Korean Anarchism Before 1945: A Regional And Transnational Approach", Anarchism and Syndicalism in the Colonial and Postcolonial World, 1870–1940, Brill, pp. 95–129 [96], doi:10.1163/ej.9789004188495.i-432.39, ISBN 9789004188488, retrieved 2022-04-17
  13. ↑ Hwang, Dongyoun (2016). Anarchism in Korea : Independence, Transnationalism, and the Question of National Development, 1919–1984. Albany: State University of New York Press. pp. 1–17. ISBN 978-1-4384-6168-7. OCLC 1023180893.
  14. 1 2 "[셀럽토크]이준익 감독, "'박열'은 치열했던 사랑이야기"" [[Celeb Talk] Director Lee Joon-ik: "'Anarchist from Colony' is a story of intense love."]. 스포츠한국 (in Korean). 2017-06-27. Archived from the original on 2025-01-25. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  15. 1 2 3 Simin Ilbo (30 June 2017). "′박열′ 저예산 이유? ＂화려한 볼거리, 인물 내면 접근 방해＂". Siminilbo.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  16. 1 2 3 Park Hae-sook (2019-03-01). "영화 박열, `가네코 후미코`역 최희서 실감나는 연기 돋보인 작품" [The film *Anarchist from Colony* stands out for Choi Hee-seo's compelling performance as Kaneko Fumiko]. 경북신문 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  17. ↑ "June 28, 2017 Box Office". Korean Film Biz.
  18. ↑ Shim, Soun-ah (July 3, 2017). "'Anarchist from Colony' nabs top spot over 'Transformers' on opening weekend". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Maala, Jon (July 10, 2017). "Spider-Man tops Korean box office for 5th straight day". International Business Times. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  20. ↑ "'박열', 박스오피스 1위…'옥자' 4위" ['Anarchist from Colony' Tops Box Office... 'Okja' Ranks 4th]. 아이뉴스24 (in Korean). 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  21. ↑ Kil, Sonia (July 25, 2017). "Korea Box Office: 'Dunkirk' Beats 'Spider-Man'". Variety. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  22. ↑ Conran, Pierce (February 9, 2018). "ANARCHIST FROM COLONY to Open Osaka Asian Film Festival". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  23. ↑ Shin, Paige (June 30, 2017). "'Anarchist from Colony' released with English subtitles in Songdo". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  24. ↑ Sun-ah, Shim (2017-06-18). "(Movie Review) 'Anarchist from Colony': Distinct but bland | Yonhap News Agency". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  25. ↑ Conran, Pierce (October 17, 2017). "A Taxi Driver Tops Buil Film Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone.
  26. ↑ "Stars shine at Daejong awards: A successful year for film industry celebrated at annual ceremony". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 27, 2017. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017.
  27. ↑ Conran, Pierce (October 30, 2017). "The Fortress Dominates 37th Korean Film Critics Association Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone.
  28. ↑ '서울어워즈' 송강호·나문희·지성·박보영 주연상…·'박열'·'비숲' 대상[종합] ['Seoul Awards': Song Kang-ho, Na Moon-hee, Ji Sung, and Park Bo-young Win Acting Awards; 'Anarchist from Colony' and 'Stranger' Win Grand Prizes [Roundup]]. TV Report (in Korean). October 27, 2017.
  29. ↑ Conran, Pierce (December 7, 2017). "Hong Sangsoo Receives 5th Grand Prize from Busan Film Critics". Korean Film Biz Zone.
  30. ↑ Conran, Pierce (December 1, 2017). "A Taxi Driver Drives Off with 4 Blue Dragons". Korean Film Biz Zone.
  31. ↑ Conran, Pierce (December 15, 2017). "BONG Joon-ho Scores 4th DGK Award for OKJA". Korean Film Biz Zone.
  32. 1 2 Lee, Edmund (January 11, 2018). "Asian Film Awards 2018 nominations". South China Morning Post.
  33. ↑ "'1987' chosen by film reporters as the best film of 2017". Yonhap News Agency. January 30, 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  34. ↑ 제54회 백상예술대상, TV·영화 각 부문별 수상 후보자 공개 [54th Baeksang Arts Awards: Nominees Announced for TV and Film Categories]. JTBC (in Korean). April 6, 2018.
  35. ↑ "[2018 백상예술대상 종합] tvN '비밀의 숲'·영화 '1987' 대상 영예+3·4관왕" [[2018 Baeksang Arts Awards Roundup] tvN’s ‘Stranger’ and the film ‘1987’ Win Grand Prizes; Each Takes Home Multiple Awards]. OSEN (in Korean). May 4, 2018.
  36. ↑ 제23회 춘사영화제 5월18일 개최..홍상수·김민희 참석하나 [23rd Chunsa Film Festival to be held on May 18... Will Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee attend?]. Newsen (in Korean). May 3, 2018.
  37. ↑ "[23rd 춘사영화제 종합]'남한산성' 최우수감독상 수상…최희서 11관왕 달성" [[23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards Roundup] 'The Fortress' Wins Best Director; Choi Hee-seo Achieves 11-Award Sweep]. Herald Corporation (in Korean). May 18, 2018.
  38. ↑ 이제훈·최희서 등 2018레지스탕스영화제 수상 [Lee Je-hoon, Choi Hee-seo, and others win awards at the 2018 Resistance Film Festival]. Naver (in Korean). 4 September 2018.
  39. ↑ 이화정 (2017-12-18). "[2017년 총결산⑦] 올해의 신인 여자배우 - 최희서" [[2017 Year-End Review ⑦] Rookie Actress of the Year – Choi Hee-seo]. 씨네21 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-08-08.
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