Wars of independence against colonizing forces across the world were founded upon the sacrifices of bravehearts, people who prioritized upholding the ideals of equality and freedom more than their own lives. Woo Min-ho’s historical drama, Harbin, meditates on the struggle of such valiant Korean revolutionaries, who laid down their lives to free their nation from oppressive Japanese control during the early twentieth century. Harbin chronicles martyr Ahn Jung-geun’s attempt to assassinate Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi, the first Resident General of Korea who played a key role in Japan’s annexation of the country. While the grounded, brutal spectacle of violent conflict showcased in the movie simultaneously highlights the futility of war, it also gives the stage to the desperation and agony of the Korean nationalists who lost everything and left a timeless legacy by inspiring upcoming generations. Aside from adept writing and strong performances, the unexpected visual grandeur of the movie,...