Harbin

The events unfold during the late 1900s, when Korea remained under Japanese rule and independence fighters operated from exile. The action spans China and Russia, tracing interactions among colonial and imperial powers that shape Korea's fate. The backdrop includes Itō Hirobumi’s political maneuvering and the international diplomacy surrounding Korea’s future.

Set across Manchuria and the Russian Far East, the film moves through Harbin, Changchun, and Vladivostok, with scenes along the frozen Tumen River. The locations are border towns and railway hubs that frame a clandestine resistance against Japanese occupation. The stark winter landscape amplifies the tension of missions and the dangers of cross-border operations.

🗡️ Resistance

The film centers on a small, determined group fighting against a superior power. Ahn Jung-geun’s leadership is tested after a deadly setback, forcing him to balance strategic choices with a strict moral code. The plan to assassinate Itō Hirobumi frames the anti-colonial struggle as a deeply personal vow. Sacrifice and perseverance push the narrative forward, even when the odds seem insurmountable.

🕊️ Redemption

Redemption threads through Ahn’s decisions and their consequences. After choosing mercy over vengeance in the past, he seeks to redeem himself through a high-stakes mission that could alter Korea’s fate. The operation tests loyalties within the group and exacts a heavy personal toll. The ending suggests that redemption may come more from continued resistance than from survival.

🕵️ Betrayal

The story exposes infiltrations and shifting loyalties within the resistance. A mole’s existence and a torture-driven betrayal destabilize the team and threaten their plans. The sting operation reveals Kim Sang-hyun’s betrayal, underscoring how trust is fragile when lives are on the line. The theme shows that betrayal can come from those closest to the cause.