The Cruel History of Ma Zhou Street

The film is an academic-style action romance movie, depicting the love triangle and friendship among model student Hyun-soo (played by Kwon Sang-woo), the 'big brother' Woo-sik (played by Lee Jeong-jin), and the beautiful girl Eun-soo (played by Han Ga-in) after Hyun-soo transfers to the notorious Jeongmun High School, stimulating the audience's sense of nostalgia. Recently, the film was voted online as the 'most anticipated movie.'

In the spring of 1978, the struggle between teachers and students at Jeongmun High School in Gangnam District was reaching a fever pitch. The teachers' desire for power and the wildness of problem students marked the beginning of this harsh history. At this time, model student Hyun-soo transferred here. By chance, he met the school's 'big brother' Woo-sik, and the two became good friends. After a chance encounter with female classmate Eun-soo on a bus, they both fell in love with her. Eun-soo also loved both of them, but expressed her feelings differently toward each. During the process of pursuing her together, Hyun-soo repeatedly held back. Watching the girl he loved fall for someone else, he finally understood the philosophy of the strong due to the cruel school rules. After losing love, he diligently trained in Jeet Kune Do and ultimately defeated the school bully.

While the film seemingly nostalgically portrays high school life in 1978, it reveals a brutal school world full of humiliation, tyranny, and teenage unrest. Like most Korean films, it excels in outstanding details, while the story's logic is weakened to the point where the plot is almost indiscernible. Among the flood of details in the film, it presents various emotions in a youthful boiling state, such as irritability, longing, and jealousy. When these emotions collide vaguely with love, violent conflicts inevitably seize the final authority. As Korean films often do, the movie carefully crafts a beautiful and moving love story. The Korean actress, with her distinctive restraint and innocence, portrays a pure and tender-hearted high school girl, establishing a beautiful core for the film's love story.

Ashes Review:
The beginning of the film left a deep impression on me. The high school to which the male protagonist transfers is extremely dark, with teachers arbitrarily beating students. Fights among classmates frequently occur. There is also a love triangle. Throughout the movie, the environment is oppressive and dark, the atmosphere heavy, yet there is still a fiery feeling that hits you—that eternal youthful spirit that exists deep in the heart.