Unfolding in the eight parts, the opening episode takes place in 17th century Korea where a child is raised specifically to avenge the death of his father’s first born: the Emperor’s son is trained as a soldier, but his best friend becomes a poet of violence. In 1915, the teacher kills his pupil, a little girl. The girl’s father swears revenge and follows the teacher to China, but is unable to carry out her intentions.
Elegant yet complex the film’s ingenious narrative elements are enhanced by Sergei Kosmanjov’s stunningly evocative images. Revenge has been restored as part of Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project.
Restored in 2010 by the Cinemaeca di Bologna / L’Immagine Ritrovata Laboratory in Kazakhstan Studio of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ermek Shinarbaev.