4:20 A.M.
I'm Sam Sik.
SWING KIDS
IN THE ARMS OF MY COUNTRY
Here. Take it. It's yours!
Comrade Gi Su!
- Comrade Gi Su! - It's Gi Su!
- Comrade Gi Su! - Gi Su!
Ro Gi Su!
- Ro Gi Su! - Ro Gi Su!
Comrade Gi Su!
Hwang Gi Dong!
- You're looking good! - Let me go!
Goodness.
Do I smell a hero here, Comrade Gi Su?
I smell trouble with your Yankee look,
Comrade Man Cheol.
When you're polished like me, the Yankees won't look down on you.
Try this, comrade.
Fill me in on the news out here that I missed out on.
It's crazy.
The new commander is a damn weasel!
He started talent shows and job trainings.
He's luring the weak fools to seek voluntary repatriation.
Those damn bastards!
Do you know who this is, damn traitors?
He's Ro Gi Su! Our hero, Ro Gi Jin's brother!
You Yankee ass-kissing, worthless traitors! You all deserve to die!
- I have to vent it out like that. - You worthless traitors!
Yankees call it getting rid of style or something.
Hey, whitey!
Stop dozing, asshole!
- Let's go! - Get all the goods!
Sure, I'll get you again.
Oh, right. It was getting rid of stress.
Hey, are you stressed out?
I bet it stressed you out.
Damn Yankees!
So your cheeks got chubbier because of this Yankee shit?
You got me all wrong.
What's the basic rule in war?
You blow the enemy's supplies.
I'm not addicted to Yankee shit. I'm trying to destroy it.
Hold on.
Gi Su, chug this down.
We steal the enemy's goods to build our strength.
That's the plan.
Good.
Drink it.
That black man is at it again.
The Yankees call that tap dance.
If it wasn't for the war, you'd be dancing before our leader.
- Right? - Shut up.
Fine.
Stay back. It'll topple over.
Who said we should go this way?
- Nancy? - Yes, In-ja?
I mean Linda.
If you mess up the dances again, you're out.
- I'll be good. - In English!
Are you all studying English?
I can't translate for you guys forever.
- Hey, newbie! - Yes?
Since it's your first day, watch and follow us carefully.
What's your name again?
Yang Pan-rae, ma'am.
Yang Pan-rae...
We use English names here. How about Candy?
I'm Candy.
Then, what about Julia?
It's taken. Right.
Since it's your first day, go with Yang Pan-rae.
Linda?
Do they give us food?
If we act like war refugees, we can't do business.
Where are we?
Who are we?
Baby, we're on fire!
Go to Koje! Go to America!
Smile.
Let's go.
Push hard!
One, two, three!
Be quiet.
What's your name?
Move it!
Hey, stinky armpits!
Let go!
Let's make money!
Let's dance!
- Who left their instrument behind? - Here!
Let's get out of here!
You, you, and you.
Pass.
- We passed! - Really?
You all pass!
- Yes! - Thank you, sir!
Watch out!
- Duck! - Get down!
He says go faster.
He wants you to try harder.
Everyone clap!
Faster!
- This way! - Who's next?
- Me! - I can dance!
Girls! Let's go.
I heard you're looking for dancers.
Where is everybody?
The auditions are over.
This is all the music?
Do you have music for this?
My heart...
I just need to rest. I'm okay.
Why did only Gi Su get placed to work at the hall?
Comrade Gi Su totally destroyed the Yankee dance club all alone!
Ro Gi Jin in the front lines and Ro Gi Su in this camp!
The hero brothers in action!
So they're making him fix the hall all by himself?
Those damn Yankees.
Damn Yankees always want to "give and take."
An eye for an eye, you know?
The black man in charge there specifically asked for Comrade Gi Su.
He must want revenge.
- Did he say anything else? - Yes.
- What? - It was in English. I couldn't understand.
How can our hero follow a black man's order?
- Don't go. - Right.
Damn westerners are all wicked regardless of color. Be careful.
Don't worry.
Real soldiers aren't afraid of the enemy camp.
What's there to be careful about? It's just one black man.
I can pound him down like a hammer any day.
What the hell are you saying?
Comrade Gi Su! Watch me.
I made a new dance. Watch me, please?
- March to the left! Go! - It symbolizes the heroic hearts of people
- and the dreams. - Pound hard!
Hit them hard!
- Wash them clean! - Slice them up!
Pound harder!
He says, "Let's do well."
Questions?
I understand, but how well?
Will we go on tours?
We will.
How far can we go?
- Everywhere. - Like where?
So, we'll be famous, right?
How famous can we be?
- Very. - And snacks?
- Yes. - How much?
A lot.
Tell him I thank him for...
I get what he just said even without translation.
A wicked, black Yankee.
An anti-Communist loser.
And...
A Yankee whore.
Watch your language!
Why you little...
Nice to meet you.
You come to our country and trample all over it.
Then you take some weak fools and teach them to be Yankees?
You're asking for it!
I'll show you how strong our Republic is!
Translate, Yankee whore.
No way, commie.
Watch it, kid!
I was born in 1933!
How old are you?
You think you're older? I was born in 1931.
- You look young! - I was born in 1928.
You damn anti-Communists won't get any respect from me.
Forget dancing!
Or else, in the name of socialism...
It's strange. Why can I understand this black man?
That dance where you just hit the ground isn't much.
I challenge you in tap dance.
If I win, no dance team.
Why do you want to be famous?
To find my wife.
If I get famous, she'll be able to find me.
If she's alive, that is.
You don't like dancing? Why don't you join us?
They don't pay you for dancing.
You don't dance to make money. You just do it.
How about you?
Dance? Why?
Why ask why? You just dance if you can.
See? He says the same thing.
Too bad about your weak heart. You breathe heavily.
It's because you're overweight.
It's because of malnutrition.
Gosh, how can you have malnutrition?
It's true! Touch here.
I have big bones. It's not fat.
You understand each other?
Step. Tap.
Right foot first, then left. No, face this way.
Step. Tap.
Right foot first.
- Step. Tap, tap, tap. - Step. Tap, tap, tap. That's it.
- Away with America! - Go faster!
- Unify Korea! - Unify Korea!
- Away with America! - Away with America!
- Unify Korea! - Unify Korea!
- Away with America! - Away with America!
You lost weight!
- Let's eat! - Sure thing.
DON'T BETRAY OUR REPUBLIC
Isn't that an American dance?
I saw it in an American film.
Tap dance is American, right?
Silly pea brain! How would I know an American dance?
Can you teach me?
If you do, I won't tell anyone.
I'm a man who keeps his promise even with a knife to his throat...
What are you rambling about so late at night?
Why did you hit me?
Don't talk back to your elders, you little twerp!
Don't hit him.
Kids are the hope of our Republic.
- Are you busy? - Why would I be?
Then come with me.
Shut your damn mouth!
Don't kill me! It hurts!
Sam Sik, you little bastard.
You always suck up to the Yankees. You call that a life?
Son of a bitch.
Engrave "traitor" on his forehead.
You little bastard.
Please! I beg you!
That's for cutting food. Let's not get it dirty.
How dare you smile!
- You son of a bitch! - Please don't!
Please don't kill me!
I'm Kang Byeong-sam.
What's your name?
No need for a traitor to know.
I'm not a traitor.
I just got on the wrong truck and ended up down here.
There's no need to know each other's names here.
You're either a traitor or a commie here.
Jackson said which political theory you support isn't important here.
Only dancing matters.
- The black Yankee's name is Jackson? - Yes.
And the Chinese soldier's name is Xiaopang.
He has malnutrition.
And her name is Yang Pan-rae.
Yankee whore's last name is Yang. It suits her.
Remember, I'm older.
I know. Up close you do look old.
Stop sneaking glances at me.
Do you have a crush on me?
You don't stand a chance against our Republic's woman.
How do they look?
They have a round face, radiant like the full moon.
Half-moon shaped eyes,
a pointy nose,
and soft, supple, thin lips.
They wear red...
Go away!
- Your face is red! - What are you doing?
Is it because you're a commie?
- Stop it! - Tell me!
You're here!
What's that?
I don't know.
Damn Yankee!
Why did he leave Gi Su out?
He told us to dance like him last time.
Poor kid.
What the hell?
I'm busy today, buddy. Look up before you go.
And wash your armpits, Yankee...
Hey! Let's go four on four!
Come on!
Now that's tap dance, losers!
What now?
You lost. Let us go you losers.
- Are you okay? - You son of a...
You son of a bitch!
- You bastards! - Seriously!
That hurts!
Fucking assholes!
Let go!
Let me go!
That's it, right?
Is that okay?
I have lots here.
ANNIHILATE AMERICANS!
Let's work after the rain!
Let's go!
DID YOU EAT?
HOW'S YOUR CHEST?
I'M FINE.
AND JACKSON?
WHEN IS HE COMING OUT?
NOT FOR A WHILE
I MADE A NEW DANCE
IT'S CALLED, I WANT TO DANCE.
I WANT TO FIND MY WIFE SOON,
AND SHOW HER OUR DANCE
- DO YOU THINK I LOST WEIGHT? - YOUR FACE LOOKS SMALLER!
I WANT SOME PAJEON.
DO YOU EAT THAT IN CHINA AS WELL?
Yankee reporters are here. Shouldn't we do something?
Hey, kid!
Looks like all that chocolate got you dancing like a damn Yankee!
But I learned this by watching Comrade Gi Su...
Stupid little twerp!
Why would our hero do a Yankee dance?
Stop eating Yankee food!
Hey, you...
Damn kid!
Why is that traitor here?
You shouldn't visit me like that.
I'm sorry. I had no choice.
Go inside. Hurry!
- What are we doing here? - We have a plan.
Reporters are here.
If we put on a good show,
we can get Jackson out and dance again.
Let's dance!
You're doing it to find your wife.
The Chinese guy is doing it to lose weight.
Pan-rae is doing it for money.
But I got no reason to dance.
Good luck.
Of course, you have a reason!
Then why are you so good?
You're the best dancer I've ever seen!
You're our ace dancer!
He's going for the goal!
And kick!
I'll be back after a drink and a bathroom break.
Let's hear it for our players...
Ready!
Don't worry!
It's just mud!
Just dance as we practiced.
To the front, to the left! Move!
To the left!
What's with you?
One, two, three, four! Jump!
Why jump on three? Seriously!
Are you okay?
Hey, the mud...
What happened?
One, two! One, two!
One, two, three!
Here I come!
I can't see!
It's been fun dancing with you.
I'm sorry!
Come on!
I did better during practice.
What was that?
You screwed up!
- Let me see! Give me that! - No way!
- They're better than mine! - Give them back!
Okay.
You never got a gift like this, right?
- Like this? - No, harder!
Stamping hard on it will get the dirt out better!
Damn it! Not the Yankee.
That's it!
DO NOT ENTER
Hey, kid! You call that a turn?
Watch carefully.
What's that?
Why you little...
Come here!
Hey, Jackson.
I guess you want to go home.
I heard America is nice. Take the team and go.
I'm not going on tours.
How could a hero of the Republic go around dancing an American dance with traitors?
Shit. That's a lie.
Tap dancing is driving me crazy.
The sound of it makes my heart race.
I know I shouldn't,
but it even makes me want to go to America someday.
Then I will have the chance to tap dance with other Yankees like you.
Just the thought of it gives me chills.
When we're at peace, I'll come to compete with you.
Take the team and dance until you drop.
For me, too.
You call that dancing?
You dance like this!
You're walking towards the cliff.
I'll teach you!
Watch and follow me.
That's it!
You damn American.
You damn traitors! Get lost!
You're a disgrace to our people!
Mae-hwa!
My wife's name is Mae-hwa!
If anyone of you meets a person named Mae-hwa,
tell her Kang Byeong-sam is alive!
That's me! Kang Byeong-sam! The name is Byeong-sam!
- Anyone from Hwanghae! - Anyone from Pyongsan?
Anyone from Hwanghae?
Hey! Where are you from?
Anyone from Hwanghae?
Gwang Guk!
Gi Su!
Gi Su...
Charge!
A dozen Yankees were charging at us holding enormous swords.
Suddenly, something big jumped out of nowhere like a tiger!
Before we knew it, the Yankees' heads had dropped and were rolling all over!
Who was the tiger?
Ro Gi Su's older brother!
The Republic's hero, Comrade Ro Gi Jin!
Comrade Gi Su and I went to middle school together.
Before the war, a Soviet dance teacher once came to school
and chose us for the national team.
Gi Su was first. I was second.
Gi Su.
Though I'm like this, don't you think I can still dance?
Like this.
All the talking made me hungry. Is there anything to eat?
Eat this!
So, this is chocolate?
I heard it's so sweet and good, it numbs your senses.
Have it all.
Where are you from?
I'm from Sariwon, Hwanghae.
Sariwon...
I heard women are pretty there. Your wife must be, too.
My daughter is pretty.
She resembles her morn.
Do you know how it's like there now?
Some traitors led by the Yankees attacked and razed the place.
Then what?
Those damn motherfuckers would've probably raped your wife and daughter.
No!
When they get tired of them, the bastards would cut their throats.
- No way! - It's true! You son of a bitch!
When you're losing your minds over this Yankee bait,
your families back home
are being slaughtered by American imperialist motherfuckers!
You ignorant, worthless traitors!
Fight with your lives!
You should be taking over this camp and joining the frontlines!
Don't just sit there because the command didn't come!
For our leader, country, and people!
How dare you cross legs like Yankees before our leader's portrait!
Cut them off! They're tainted with American ways!
If Yankee ideas got into your head, cut off your head!
Long live our great leader!
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
- Louder! - Hurrah!
- Shout it with your lives! - Hurrah!
- Annihilate the Yankee invaders! - Hurrah!
- Annihilate the Yankees! - Annihilate the Yankees!
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
- Capitalism is the best, isn't it? - Hurrah!
- Hurrah!
Kill the traitors!
- Execute them all for treason! - What's wrong? No!
- Kill them! - Kill them!
- Kill the traitors! - Kill them!
- Kill them!
I'll teach those commie bastards not to mess with me!
Let's attack them after we're done! Follow me!
Prepare the weapons!
Let's chop them into pieces and bury them in shit!
Don't kill us!
- Help! - I am sorry!
Open up!
You bastards! You commie bastards!
ANTI-COMMUNISM DRAMA
Damn you bastards!
I have unresolved issues with that damn Yankee.
If you want to dance again,
pretend you're dead.
It's strange how the Yankees are always camped out
at places we planned to attack.
There must be a mole among us.
Split up the weapons and hide them.
Leaders, do not meet together in one place.
Remember, a spy is close by. Keep watch on each other.
Comrade Gi Su!
I heard Ro Gi Jin is missing.
But don't worry, he's invincible.
I'm not worried.
I don't think I've seen you behead a single Yankee recently.
And I heard the Yankee you stabbed is walking around fine.
But I guess all Yankees look the same.
Just cut to the chase.
I'm asking you to set an example as the brother of a hero.
By doing what?
Show us if the black man's blood is red or black.
A piece of cake.
All is vain
Life is futile
How dare you!
Get out, bitch!
- Are you that famous bitch? - You worthless shit!
It's nice to meet you, bitch!
- Get up! - Get up, bitch!
Who says you can work without our permission?
- I did it to survive. - What the hell are you saying?
People die in wars!
Just die, bitch! Die!
- Die! - Die!
- Try and kill me, bitches! - You're bleeding!
- Linda! - Linda!
I'll kill you, fucking bitches!
She's a commie!
She's a damn commie!
She was ordered to come and spread the plague!
That bitch is a commie!
No! I'm not a commie! I'm a liberalist, South Korean!
- She's a commie! - Get her!
- Kill the commie!
- What are you doing? Come on. - Get her!
- She's a commie!
Jackson!
Did you eat?
Sebaetdon?
You give sabaetdon on New Year's Day.
Just so happens, I'm completely broke.
What? You shouldn't be complaining.
I bet they feel the same.
- Destroy Communism! - Destroy Communism!
- Annihilate the commies! - Annihilate the commies!
Naengmyeon.
- Flatfish sikhae. - Dumplings.
Didn't you already say that?
- Eobok-jaengban. - I was going to say that!
Stop it!
I saw somewhere that if you list off the food you crave
or talk about what you did before the war,
you'll be the first to die.
Hello, leaders.
I brought some snacks.
What did you do before the war?
I was a school teacher.
You don't have to talk so formally to me. You're much older.
And you?
I owned a naengmyeon restaurant.
His dream was to become an artist.
I wanted to become a poet.
That's why you're so good with speeches!
When we return home after winning the war,
let's all gather at your restaurant and have makgeolli.
The drinks will be on me.
The garden balsams
By the fence
They look very forlorn
I used to be a singer.
Make sure you call me for a drink, too.
I'll sing you a song.
Great idea!
How about a song for us now?
Stop! I saw somewhere...
I'll tell you what he just yapped about.
Damn bosses always talk too much no matter what race.
Drink it. And have some cookies.
Thanks for leading us to their weapons.
But he's worried that the commies are strangely quiet after that.
Damn Yankees are chickens.
You like that? Fucking bastard.
He wants to root out the rebels once and for all.
He wants the leader who gets orders from the North.
If I spilled on the weapons, they said I could meet my grandmother.
How would I know who the leader is here?
Hold on.
Don't throw it, asshole.
I'm not so happy about working for these jerks either.
What is this? How did we end up under them?
Take a look at this.
There's no future in this country.
They're bringing your grandmother.
Have her live in luxury before passing away.
You're the mole?
- Let go! - It was you?
- You killed Gwang Guk? - Let me go!
Anti-Communist bastard! How could you!
Look who's talking!
What about you?
I did it to save my family.
My grandmother...
I did it to meet her. But what about you?
Dancing like a Yankee!
Will that bring back your dead mom or help you meet your brother?
Is that why you went crazy tap dancing?
Since when did you know?
You tap dance in your sleep! How could I not know?
You're crazy about it! You should know!
Communism or Capitalism!
The Americans and Soviets made them for them!
What has that got to do with us?
Because of their ideology, why does...
Why does my grandmother have to die?
You've lost your mind.
Killing people and dividing the country because of ideology is crazy.
I'm fine as hell!
Look.
I'll do what I have to.
You do what you want.
Mae-hwa!
Do you know Mae-hwa?
Tell her Kang Byeong-sam is looking for her!
Did you say, "Mae-hwa?"
You're looking for Mae-hwa?
She's up ahead.
Mae-hwa!
- Comrade Mae-hwa! - Mae-hwa!
Mae-hwa!
I don't know English!
Mae-hwa!
Forgive me!
Forgive me! I thought she was my wife!
Please forgive me!
Ro Gi Jin!
- Ro Gi Jin! - Ro Gi Jin!
Gi Jin!
- Ro Gi Jin! - Ro Gi Jin!
I wasn't listening to this fool!
Just keep pacing!
Give me food!
IN THE ARMS OF MY COUNTRY
Let's disband.
We should be fighting each other in the middle of the war, not dancing.
I only did it to find my wife.
I'm done with it.
If only my wife...
If only she's alive...
I just wish she's alive.
I'm sorry.
This should kill off all the traitors.
It's not enough. Hurry up and make more.
We have to speed it up to kill all the anti-Communists.
Mae-hwa...
DEAR GRANDSON...
Not me!
After all the traitors I ratted on...
Comrade Gi Su!
Did you hear?
Hear what?
Comrade Gi Jin got released!
Damn Yankees don't give without a take.
I wonder what they're trying to take...
Catch!
It's gotten a lot colder.
Warm up by the fire, comrade Gi Su.
Comrade Gi Jin, you come here too.
It's been a while. Shouldn't you two meet up close?
I was an actor before joining the army.
Do you know what role I usually played?
Isn't it obvious? The village dummy!
Your kicks must be hard from all the tap dance training.
Who are you, comrade?
Who do you think?
I'm the commie the commander is dying to catch.
The leader getting orders from the North.
Did you have fun tap dancing?
Forgive me, sir!
Don't be.
Wasting your talent is a sin.
Keep doing your best.
Speaking of tap dancing,
get on stage at Christmas when the people from Red Cross come.
Comrade?
What good is killing 100 small fries?
The top guy is important.
Shoot the Commander in the head and become a real hero.
Comrade Gi Jin.
Shoot
I mean, shoot yourself in the head, comrade.
Otherwise,
I'll put a hole through your brother's head.
Don't do it!
Isn't the war great?
How else would a nameless actor like me become a leader?
And how could've comrade Gi Jin become a hero?
He's a giant with the IQ of a child.
Bang! Bang!
Die! Bang!
Whether he remains a hero
or an idiot with a traitor brother is all up to...
I'll do it!
I'm itching like crazy to tap dance anyway!
I'll go on stage.
All I have to do is shoot the Commander while I'm up there, right?
You're a traitor from now on.
I've been one for a while.
One who's crazy about the Yankee dance.
TRAITOR
If things go wrong, I'll engrave it for real.
Listen to my command!
Our goal is to get them to think we fell for their trap.
Let them think they wiped us out to loosen their security.
Make the commander think he succeeded.
- Long live Communism! - Long live Communism!
Long live Communism!
No time to grieve! Bury him quickly!
You should be used to seeing corpses by now.
What did I miss?
Do it from the start.
Come on!
Christmas is around the corner! Let's start practicing already.
- I'm serious! - What do you mean?
Once you're addicted to Yankee shit, you can't stop.
- Gi Su is no exception. - Shut up!
That's impossible.
Is the food ready?
Is it true?
Are the rumors true?
What's that? Let me see.
- What's this? - It's American...
Aren't those what the Yankees wear?
Move!
Out of my way!
Your mother is quite beautiful.
You must take after your dad. You're so nasty looking.
Bastard.
You're lucky.
You got a home, a mom, and a country to go back to.
And you can dance.
Hey!
FUCK YOU
Did it hurt?
Good job staying alive.
Sorry, I don't have any rewards for you.
That's for kids!
The Republic's hero looks stupid doing that.
When the war's over, ask for a pretty wife and have children.
You're a hero. I'm sure they'll make it happen.
You...
Wife, too.
I've tried everything already.
I held hands.
I even kissed her till my teeth almost fell out.
What?
You want to hear a rooster?
A pig!
A car!
Don't you know?
Grandpa Rudolph takes Santa, the reindeer, to...
Found you!
How do you divide up a piece of Spam?
- Eight times! - Eight times!
Eight times!
Thank you!
Thanks!
Thank you!
You're still alive?
Relax! Don't get nervous.
Jackson! Loosen up! It's not a big deal.
When I say "one, two, three," start with your left.
Byeong-sam?
When the show's over, run straight to your wife.
When we're done, take them and run out of here.
We're touring together. Don't think of leaving.
Kid.
Jackson! I love you, man!
What's going on?
Son of a bitch!
Gi Jin!
No!
You fucking bastards!
You motherfuckers!
You fucking bastards!
No...
Get up.
Please.
Get up.
Gi Su!
You commie bastards!
- I'm going to shut you up! - Try me, commie bastards!
Shut up you bastards!
- Die, you traitors! - You fucking commies!
THE HISTORY OF POW CAMP IN KOJE ISLAND
Hey, Jackson!
Not admitting that you lost is worse than losing.
Do you understand?
Screw you!