Korean, Chinese and Japanese Movie DVDs & Blu-ray

Released through Gosfilmofond, the film archive of Russia which holds one of the world’s richest collection of films, the fourth installment of The Past Unearthed series, The Past Unearthed The 4th: Moving Images From Gosfilmofond, contains six gems excavated by the Korean Film Archive. The collection features films which are estimated to have been released in the late 30s to early 40s, and offer invaluable insight into the realities of Japanese colonialism in Korea.

The Past Unearthed The 4th: Moving Images From Gosfilmofond comes with the following six films: Choong who eh Joseon (“The End of Joseon”) (1937), Joseon Woori eh who bang (“On The Home Front”) (1939), Joseon eh ae kook il (“Joseon’s Patriotic Day”) (1940), Il bon shill ok (“The History of Japan”) (1943), Joseon shibo je 11 bo (“Joseon News, 11th ) (1943), and Han sung shim eh him (“The Power of Devotion”) (1935).

Choong who eh Joseon (“The End of Joseon”, 1937)
Released immediately following Japan’s victory in the Sino-Japanese War, this war propaganda film depicts the social atmosphere of Joseon during the turbulent times. Offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Joseon Governor General Office and the diffusion of Japanese language in Joseon, the film provides fascinating images such as Joseon women in kimonos cheering for the Imperial Japanese army, a troop train full of gleeful volunteers departing for war, hard-working Joseon women helping out in the production of ammunition, and war fund-raising events and campaigns.

Joseon Woori eh who bang (“On The Home Front”, 1939)
Aimed at promoting active Korean participation in the war for the Imperial Japanese Army, the film sees the people of Joseon mobilized into a string of organized units such as a youth group helping to recruit young volunteers, a group promoting the sale of war bonds, and an exclusive organization that focuses on donating aircrafts and anti-aircraft machine guns.

Joseon eh ae kook il (“Joseon’s Patriotic Day”, 1940)
Produced by the Joseon Governor General Office, this propaganda film was made to boost the “General Mobilization of National Spirit”, a government-inspired campaign designed to integrate Japan and Joseon as well as mobilize Joseon men and women to war. Some of the images include the hoisting of Japan’s national flag; people paying allegiance to the flag at Shinto shrine; and a special ceremony thrown for exceptionally patriotic citizens.

Il bon shill ok (“The History of Japan”, 1943)
Shot in a newsreel style, the film provides interesting statistics on the total number of military trainees and volunteers during the years 1937 – 1939, and offers a closer look at the physical examination process of recruit volunteers, the training facilities for Joseon Governor General Office’s infantry volunteers, close-order drills, and sword mastery and physical trainin.
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