Original subtitles

If my car gets scratched, are you gonna pay for it?

Hey!

Hello? Where are you from?

ARD Germany. My name is Peter.

I'm Choi, a local reporter. How did you get here?

I heard all the roads to Gwang-ju are blocked.

I came by taxi.

Live and die together, hoorah hoorah!

We'd rather die standing than live on our knees!

We fight for justice!

Afternoon of May 20, 1980 Geumnam Street, Gwang-ju

Citizens of Gwang-ju, unite!

Citizens of Gwang-ju, citizens of Gwang-ju,

Citizens of Gwang-ju, unite!

Can you hold this?

Yeah, okay, sure.

What a jerk.

Wow, Jeolla Province really does have the best food.

Looks simple, but tastes great.

The seasoning is perfect!

Be very careful.

The Korean press is not allowed here, and foreign press is not welcome.

If they find you are here, the government will hunt you down.

And the people helping you.

What, you want one?

Have a bite. Nothing's happening there.

No, thank you.

Why so serious all of a sudden?

It's nothing.

I have to join them.

Don't get involved, stay here.

How can I just watch?

What difference will it make?

Okay. Let's get down there.

Where? There?

No, no, no, here stay. There danger.

Here safe.

You stay, we go down.

That guy's just shooting from up here, too.

Where are you going?

What's going on?

Drive out Chun Doo-hwan!

Danger, danger.

If you're gonna shoot, do it from there.

It's too dangerous here.

Let's go, will you?

Are you okay?

Sorry, sorry!

What the hell is wrong with you?

That's why I said, it's too dangerous here!

- Let's go. - Don't touch!

Mister, the soldiers have gone crazy.

Hurry up and run!

Damned commie needs to be taught a lesson!

Get rid of him!

Hey, who's that?

Get him.

Do you have a death wish? We need to go!

Mister, this way! This way!

Over here!

Hurry!

Huh? Isn't she...?

Mister!

Mister, hurry up!

That's why I kept saying danger!

Is that thing expensive?

I've never seen one before. Should I ask him?

No, don't ask.

What? It wasn't my fault.

But why were those soldiers acting that way?

Beating and chasing people who weren't doing anything.

I don't know either. We just don't know why.

Oh god, look at the time.

Hey! Let's go Seoul.

Yeah, okay. Let's go back to Seoul.

Okay, okay.

Then, what about you? We're going to Seoul.

Yes, of course. Then let me off up there.

- Okay. - Thanks.

Please promise me.

You have to show our news.

Once this footage airs, the entire world will be watching.

You are not alone.

Thank you so much.

Sir, have a safe trip back.

Wait, kid!

What's your name?

Jae-sik. Gu Jae-sik.

Gu Jae-sik... Practice hard, okay?

I'll watch your song contest on TV.

Okay.

Have a safe trip.

Come on, not again.

Did it break down?

What happened?

Isn't that...?

I told you it was him! The Seoul driver.

You were right.

Car's broken?

That's bad.

Man, the repair shop's closed.

- Sure is. - Yeah.

I'm sure they'll fix it soon.

Wow!

Is this your daughter?

Whoa, she's so cute!

You've got hidden talents! And your wife is pretty too.

What a relief she took after her mother instead of...

His daughter, huh? Pretty, isn't it?

Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...

No touch!

You ready?

- Yeah, just a sec. - Okay.

Ready. Try starting it!

Give it a go.

This car already ran over 600,000 km!

How'd you drive all the way here?

- The transmission is too old. - Need to change the starter?

That's a bummer.

I heard the repair shop's all out of parts.

What about parts from another car? He can have mine.

I changed my starter recently, so better switch with mine.

Then, leave it here for now.

I'll find a way to make it run a short distance.

How long will it take?

I need to be in Seoul before the curfew.

- It'll take at least 2 hours. - Yeah.

Better leave for Seoul tomorrow.

Curfew here is 9 o'clock.

You don't want to be out past curfew.

- Is there a phone somewhere? - What for?

Those bastards have cut all the phone lines.

What?

Isn't there any way? I need to call home.

What're you so worried about?

If a man's out working, he can stay out a night or two.

My daughter's home alone. And she's only 11.

Then where's her mom?

What?

Oh, that poor thing.

Too young to be alone...

Oh my.

Mr. Kim, if it's about money, let me pay for the repairs.

You bastard, did I ask you for money?

You knew everything, right?

Danger, you knew it!

Why are you yelling at me?

It's not my fault your car broke down.

And you knew exactly that it would be dangerous here!

What's this prick saying?

Mister, calm down! He says you knew the danger.

Bullshit! Like hell I did!

And why do you keep taking this foreigner's side, huh?

What?

Just take the money.

Take the money. Take the money, here.

Get that away from me!

Get it away!

Oh my.

Just stop it!

Just calm down, stop it!

My, oh my...

His young daughter at home alone.

But he can't go back to Seoul. He cannot call.

Jürgen Hinzpeter, Asia Correspondent for Germany's public broadcaster.

He came in from Japan.

What are those assholes in the security service doing?

He entered without registering as a reporter, so they missed him.

He declared himself a missionary.

He seems to have planned the whole thing.

He's using a Seoul taxi, so we'll find him soon.

So that's where you live... the corner house?

Yes, next to it.

We're almost here.

Come on, hurry.

Honey? I'm home!

Dad!

Goodness, why are you back so late?

There was a lot going on.

Did you stay up waiting for Daddy?

Who are they?

It's a long story. Can you make us dinner?

- Yes, but not much to eat. - Fine with just kimchi.

Come on, let's go in. Please...

It's okay if we have kimchi...

Get in!

Oh, my!

Is this all we've got for such important guests?

Don't worry. Your neighbor will look after your daughter.

You can call her on the way tomorrow morning.

Yes.

Dad, I'm hungry.

Oh, go ahead and eat. You're hungry?

Try this first. My wife made it.

It's crisp, slightly bitter, but with a real kick...

Not sure if it's your style, but please try.

Give it a try.

That's hot!

This is spicy, hot.

Oh, not a problem. I can handle spicy.

Wow, he eats well.

Oh my god. This is a shock.

Wasser!

- What? - Water!

Too spicy for him!

Hot!

No wonder. He ate it too easy.

What are you laughing for?

You come to a foreign country, break a camera, eat kimchi.

You've been through a lot, too.

Why'd you come here?

Why you come here?

Reporter.

Was that English?

Seoul drivers speak English?

I'm a reporter.

Reporters go wherever there is news.

Then try translating what he just said.

I'm a reporter here for the news something like that...

Is that right?

Yes.

You're amazing. I never would've guessed!

Ah...

Why you become a reporter?

What's that, a poker card? I used to play, too...

Not that, money. He means money.

He means he did it because of the money?

Yes.

Where do you spend your money?

A hole in your sock.

He acts like such a big shot, but I guess he's not.

How can you be worse off than a widower like me?

Martial Law Soldiers Massacre Civilians in Gwang-ju

Now that's a real newspaper!

There's no turning back after this. So if anyone...

Are you the only reporter here?

We've all made up our minds.

Open the door!

Are you trying to close us down?

But Chief! We're reporters, aren't we?

Shouldn't we at least try to tell the people

what's happening here and why?

What will happen then?

They will shut us down, and drag us all off!

Come on, get them out!

Let go! Chief! Chief!

Will this stop bullets?

Of course not. It's to cover the lights.

Right.

It's time for evening news.

Why bother watching useless crap?

Who knows, maybe they'll say something today.

I doubt it...

- The disturbance in Gwang-ju... - It's on.

is not yet contained...

- Have some fruit. - Hey, quiet!

...with student radicals and gangsters gathering in Gwang-ju

and spreading groundless rumors.

To date, 1 civilian has been killed, and 5 members of the military...

Those fuckers!

Honey!

How can they say that? So many people died today!

Is the news just allowed to lie like that?

Why did we have to watch that crap?

God that sets me off!

That's not true.

As soon as I get back to Japan, my footage will hit the news.

The whole world will see.

Mr. Kim will take me back to the airport, and...

Anyhow without him, I would have never made it to Gwang-ju.

He can broadcast it when he gets to Japan, with Mr. Kim's help.

And Mr. Kim also helped him get pass the soldiers blocking the roads.

You're amazing. Both of you.

Well, a driver has to go where the customer says.

Don't worry, don't worry.

I'll take you right to the airport tomorrow.

Airport, okay?

By the sound of it, I should plead to both of you...

Please make this work.

I'd beg you on my knees, really!

No, I'm really good at that.

On my knees!

Forget that.

Sing us a song instead. He's entering a song contest.

We'll judge if you deserve a prize, so sing!

- Oh, no way! - Please.

I do guitar, not vocals.

What's the difference?

Give him a hand!

What should I do?

Wow, looking good!

♪ What can I do if you ♪ ♪ leave me like this? ♪

♪ What can I do to go on ♪ ♪ living without you? ♪

What? Why ring the gong?

Students may protest against you, to stop you from singing.

I told you, I play guitar! But I'm not that bad!

I shouldn't have asked him to sing.

Is that a new song?

I guess I'm no good.

You're really not a singer.

But there's something striking about him.

See, I told you!

Oh, my. He looks just like your brother.

- That's right! - Yes, they're similar!

- You mean Sang-chul? - Yeah.

Who?

Right, why didn't I see it before?

I have a younger brother.

You look just like him.

What do you think? Same-same?

- What do you mean? - He looks like my husband.

Same, same.

I look like Peter, right?

Oh no!

What's that?

What's this sound?

That's by the TV station.

Yeah, I think so.

Bro! People are gathering over by the TV station!

The taxi drivers are all heading there, too.

- Really? - I'll see you there.

Night of May 20, 1980 Near Gwang-ju MBC TV Station

The foreign reporter! Get the radio!

Jae-sik!

Mister, look out!

They're plainclothes soldiers!

What? Plainclothes?

Damned commies!

Go hide up there. I'll bring it up.

Hurry!

Where is he?

He didn't come this way.

Hello!

I know you're up there.

Mister.

If you give me the camera and film,

you two,

no...

the three of you including this kid...

can go free.

What is he saying?

I'll count to ten.

And I'll let you decide

what the wise choice is.

He wants this.

Then we can live, and Jae-sik too.

Give safe.

Let's give it to him.

One,

two,

three,

four,

five,

- What are you doing? - six,