A young Japanese actress recalls her wartime childhood in Korea. Her father leaves for battle, and her baby sister Miko dies of typhoid. Her beloved Korean maid, Ohana, is fired after a mistake that could endanger Chiko. As Chiko realizes that the country is under Japanese rule and Koreans are persecuted, the war ends and Koreans begin to challenge Japanese authority, shifting the balance of power. Chiko’s family becomes unwanted. Then the Russians arrive, bringing an end to everything. They must burn all photographs to avoid suspicion, even Miko’s picture. When the Russians approach their house, they decide to flee across the 38th Parallel toward freedom. A group of men, women, and children struggles along the mountains, l...