Anarchist from Colony

Park Yeol rises as the leader of Bulryeongsa, an anarchist group that includes 14 Korean and five Japanese members. He is portrayed as easygoing yet courageous and disobedient, rarely troubling others while pushing for action. His partner Fumiko is strong, intelligent, and optimistic, contributing to strategic planning.

Yeol plots a bombing against Prince Hirohito as a central act of the group's radical strategy. The plan reveals their willingness to strike at imperial symbols to spark a revolution. The discussions reflect their aim to shake the foundations of imperial power.

The Kanto Earthquake devastates Tokyo in 1923, turning the city into ruins and creating an atmosphere ripe for political opportunism. The disaster heightens fear and distrust, providing cover for vigilantism and state actions against dissidents. The event serves as a catalyst for the subsequent crackdown on Koreans and anarchists.

Former Minister Mizuno accuses Koreans of poisoning wells and arson, using the disaster to foment anti-Korean backlash. His statements promote revenge against Koreans and help justify harsh measures by the authorities.

The Kanto Massacre erupts with thousands killed; over 6,000 Koreans are massacred by vigilantes in the aftermath. The violence exposes the brutal reaction to the quake and undermines social order. The massacre becomes a turning point that authorities will later try to explain away.

To deflect attention from the massacre, Mizuno targets Yeol and Bulryeongsa, charging them with crimes against Japan. The authorities hope to frame the anarchists as the primary danger, diverting public discourse from the mass killings.

Yeol and Kaneko stand trial in Tokyo, where they mock the government and imperial system during the proceedings. Their defiant demeanor and rhetoric reveal their resolve to challenge imperial authority and advocate for class and national equality. The trial is depicted as a platform for their revolutionary ideas.

During the trial they articulate a belief in equality and revolution as the path to liberation from imperial rule. Their dialogue emphasizes the bond between Yeol and Kaneko, framing their love as part of the revolutionary project. They acknowledge the trial as a tool to suppress discussion of the massacre.

They are found guilty, but the sentence narrowly avoids execution, signaling a fragile victory for the state. The verdict underscores the regime's willingness to punish dissent while preserving its own power. The mood remains defiant as their ideals persist beyond the courtroom.

Kaneko dies in prison under a supposed suicide, a death that the Heukdohoe refuse to accept as genuine. They suspect murder and mourn her loss as a political betrayal. The event deepens their sense of injustice and strengthens their resolve.

After her death, the group travels to retrieve Kaneko's body, clinging to the belief that she was murdered rather than suicided. This act reinforces their sense of injustice and their commitment to the revolutionary cause.

Following the end of the occupation in 1946, Yeol is released from prison. The film hints that his revolutionary hopes linger even as the world changes around him. His release marks a tentative closure to the era of his radical activism.

The film closes with a montage showing Yeol and Kaneko's image, followed by the real photograph fading to black. The final image leaves their relationship and struggle unresolved, a memory lingering after the historical events.