Synopsis

In October 1979, colonel Park Heung-ju participated in the assassination of President Park Chung-hee under the orders of his superior. Set in the aftermath of the seismic event, Choo Chang-min’s political drama profiles this lesser-known historical figure, portrayed by Lee Sun-kyun in one of his final film appearances. Tried in a military court where the outcome seems predetermined, the staunch soldier refuses to compromise to save himself. While his frustrated defense attorney fights for a fair trial, a power-hungry general manipulates proceedings in the shadows. With realistic trial scenes based on actual courtroom records, Land of Happiness vividly captures a page of South Korea’s turbulent modern history.

Busan International Film Festival