Anarchist from Colony (Korean: 박열; Hanja: 朴烈; lit. "Park Yeol") is a 2017 South Korean biographical period drama film directed by Lee Joon-ik about the life of independence activist Park Yeol (also spelled "Pak Yol"), with Lee Je-hoon taking on the title role. It premiered in South Korea on June 28, 2017.^[2][3][4][5]

The film is based on the true story of the anarchist and revolutionary Park Yeol (Lee Je-hoon), who organizes the anarchist group Futei-sha [ko] (in Korean "Heukdohoe"), which planned to assassinate Japan's Crown Prince Hirohito during Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The movie also highlights the relationship between Park and his lover Kaneko Fumiko (Choi Hee-seo), a Japanese nihilist who sympathized with Koreans oppressed under Japanese rule.

Park Yeol is the leader of the anarchist group Bulryeongsa, which has 14 Korean and five Japanese members. He seems like an easygoing, courageous and disobedient young man who never troubles others. His partner Fumiko is a strong and intelligent woman who appears to be positive with a sense of humor, though she is imprisoned with her lover.^[6]

The film shows the anarchist group Heukdohoe (which goes by multiple names) discussing their methods for resisting the Japanese harassment against Koreans. Park Yeol (Bak Yeol) as the leader of this group, plots a bombing against Prince Hirohito. Then, the Kanto Earthquake of 1923 hits Japan, leaving the city in ruin. In the film, Former Minister of Affairs Mizuno suggests that Koreans had been poisoning water wells and setting the city on fire following the earthquake. He promotes an idea that Japanese patriots go out and enact revenge; it is highly hinted at that he only wants this to enact revenge against Koreans following the March 1st Incident, where Korean anarchists made a rebellious stance against Japanese imperialism.

Following this, the Kanto Massacre occurs, where over 6000 Koreans were massacred by Japanese vigilantes.^[7] In order to cover up the massacre, Mizuno focusses on Yeol and his organization’s activities. Because they are self-proclaimed anarchists, he looks to trying them for crimes against Japan to minimize discussions about the massacre, eventually focusing on Yeol’s plot against Hirohito. The following trial highlights how Yeol and Kaneko made a mockery of the Japanese government and imperialist ways. They discuss their desire for the Japanese people to become disillusioned from the imperial family’s godly power over the nation. They note that in this way, equality between classes and peoples can occur; they also discuss how they are well aware their trial is meant to cover up the Korean Massacre and will do everything they can to prevent this. Underlying these beliefs are the intense moments of their companionship and love that center on their shared desire for revolution.

The film ends showing the guilty verdict Kaneko and Yeol faced, and how they narrowly avoided the death sentence. Once the two are separated, Kaneko mysteriously dies in prison from supposed suicide, though none of the Heukdohoe believe this—they fully believe she was murdered. They go to retrieve her body, and Yeol is said to have been released from prison after occupation ended in 1946. The final shot shows the film’s picture of Yeol and Kaneko and then the real one fading out to black.

The Kanto Massacre that took the lives of over 6000 Koreans began from rumors the Hongō Komagome police heard about Koreans poisoning wells and starting fires.^[7]

Korean anarchism is largely understood as a reaction to the Japanese imperialism and anarchist ideas coming from Chinese and Japanese students.^[8] Korean anarchism always placed freedom from Japanese imperialism first. As nationalism influenced anarchism so did the ideology of socialist revolution creating a more equal world.^[9]

The film topped the box office during its opening weekend, earning US$5.9 million with 817,971 admissions.^[13][14]

By the end of two weeks since the film was released, it has earned US$12.36 million in total.^[15]

The film earned a total of US$16.1 million after one month run.^[16]

The film was released in Los Angeles and Buena Park, California, also in Dallas, Texas in the United States.^[17]

• Kantō Massacre^[33]
• Anarchism in Korea
• Pak Yol
• Fumiko Kaneko
• March 1st Movement