The Wildflower in the Battlefield (1974) - Film July 24, 2009

The Wildflower in the Battlefield (1974) - Film. Directed by: Lee, Man Hee. More than a decade after making The Marines Who Never Returned, Lee Man-hee returned to the Korean War for inspiration. Set in the early days of the conflict, Wildflower in the Battlefield follows the brutal fighting through the eyes of a young boy adopted as a 'mascot' by a group of soldiers near the front lines. A companion film to The Marines Who Never Returned, Wildflower revisits a favorite subject of the prolific and popular director Lee: the destructive war he actually witnessed. The tragedy of the Korean War unfolds through a mute 10-year old Dol-yis silent recollection. One day, shocking news spreads that the North has attacked and before anyone realizes it, the boys formerly close family is dispersed and fighting for their lives. What did Dol-yi really think about but was unable to voice during the tremendous upheaval and suffering that came with the war and the resultant tragedy of a divided country? Through the actions and experiences of a diverse group of characters, Lee depicts various examples of bravery and cowardice in the face of war. Director Lee, Man-hee, one of Koreas most talented filmmakers who tragically passed away in 1975 at the age of 45, is known as a director who excelled in a range of genres and styles. One of the genres in which he made a particular impression was the war film. Starting with the box-office hit The Marines Who Never Returned in 1963, Lee became famous for his character-centred stories that tended to walk the line between the kind of film that the military government wanted- tales of camaraderie and courage that celebrated the nations success and sacrifices in war- and a more humanist-centred, sober look at the hard realities of fighting and dying in battle. Occasionally, Lee would stray beyond that line- most famously in 1965 when he was briefly arrested for his portrayal of North Koreans in his film Seven Women Prisoners. Although entry is free, those interested are requested to register in advance of the show. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

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