Orphan proudly presents the first English-subtitled version of the 1990 movie Kimu no Juujika (Kim’s Cross). It tells the story of the oppression of Koreans under Japanese colonial rule, and their enslavement for forced labor during World War II, through the eyes of a family of tenant farmers, the Kims. They must pay 70% of their crops as “rent,” are forbidden to learn the Korean alphabet, and are forced to take Japanese names. Most of the family is content to eke out a meager existence, but the younger son, Sehwan, wants more - in particular, an education. He joins the local church to learn how to read and becomes a Christian. Because the local Japanese authorities regard Christianity with suspicion, he is sent away to a blacksmithing family across the mountains. Then the older son, Jeha is press-ganged for forced labor in Japan. He survives, but the cost is steep.

Encoded from an R2J DVD by WOWmd. Rated “kino” (deservedly) by the translator, Perevodildo. See this blog entry for more details.

This release, and all Orphan releases, are available for direct download from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.