In the early 1900s, Korea found itself occupied by Japanese forces and embroiled in a fight for independence. Director Woo Min-ho’s film Harbin shines a light on this volatile period through the eyes of revolutionary Ahn Jung-geun. Played by renowned Korean actor Hyun Bin, Jung-geun is a commander in the Independence Army struggling to free his homeland. After a costly battle, he forms a desperate plan: travel incognito to Russia and assassinate Hirobumi Ito, Japan’s powerful prime minister.

This forms the basis of the intricate plot that Woo Min-ho weaves. But beyond recounting Jung-geun’s mission, the film also aims to convey the turmoil of the era. Scenes depict the brutality of clashes between Korean rebels and Japanese troops. We see how Jung-geun’s compassionate release of enemies earns distrust from his own allies. And as the assassination scheme launches, creeping paranoia sets in over a suspected mole within their ranks.