Flame in the Valley is a South Korean melodrama film directed by Kim Ki-young and released in 1967. The story is set in the early 1950s, during the Korean War.
The protagonist, Jeong-suk, is a widow who lives with her young daughter in a remote village in Jirisan. One day, she stumbles upon a wounded Communist soldier who has escaped from a nearby prison camp. Out of compassion, she decides to hide him in a bamboo grove near her house.
Jeong-suk goes to great lengths to conceal the soldier's presence from the villagers, who are hostile towards Communists. However, she cannot resist visiting him in secret and they soon develop a passionate physical relationship.
As the months pass, the soldier becomes a father figure to Jeong-suk's daughter and the trio begins to feel like a family. However, their happiness is short-lived when Jeong-suk discovers that she is pregnant with the soldier's child.
At first, Jeong-suk considers an abortion, but ultimately decides to keep the baby and raise it as her own. When the villagers eventually discover the soldier's hiding place, Jeong-suk and her daughter are forced to flee, leaving the soldier behind to face his fate.
Flame in the Valley is a poignant tale of love and sacrifice in wartime, exploring themes of morality, loyalty, and the human cost of conflict. The film is notable for its striking visuals and intense performances by its lead actors, who bring a raw emotional power to their roles.
