It is the 1930s and Korea is under the Japanese occupation. The Korean people barely survive day to day under the cruel and difficult conditions of the Japanese. Chun-ho and his wife Sun-ie wander about the whole country looking for a place to live. As his wife lags behind, Chun-ho yells at her. He tries to throw away the kettle that she is holding but she holds on to it with her dear life. Chun-ho fails over and over at gambling and gold mines. They settle down in a mining v...more

It is the 1930s and Korea is under the Japanese occupation. The Korean people barely survive day to day under the cruel and difficult conditions of the Japanese. Chun-ho and his wife Sun-ie wander about the whole country looking for a place to live. As his wife lags behind, Chun-ho yells at her. He tries to throw away the kettle that she is holding but she holds on to it with her dear life. Chun-ho fails over and over at gambling and gold mines. They settle down in a mining village. Due to his troubles, Chun-ho habitually beats and berates Sun-ie but she works diligently, loving and watching over him. He doesn't understand why Sun-ie wants a child. Chun-ho puts all his energy into getting out of his present misery, at all costs. He listens intently to Hyang-sim, a barmaid, when she says she'll introduce him to her uncle in Seoul who is well connected to the Japanese. Chun-ho yells and beats Sun-ie to get some extra money. In order to get some money, Sun-ie goes to the home of Lee's mistress. Lee is a loan shark. His mistress is willing to pay in advance for precious mountain ginseng. But when Sun-ie gets there, the mistress is out and she runs into Lee instead. Lee has always had his eye on Sun-ie. He tries to violate her as she fights him off desperately. In the end, Lee gives her money and takes her. With the money Sun-ie has gotten him, Chun-ho goes to Seoul with Hyang-sim to meet her uncle. Meanwhile, a wife of the village is found floating dead in the river.less