The film falls into the realm of propaganda, evident in the exclusively Korean cast, even for Japanese characters. The poorly executed Japanese dialogue necessitates subtitles, which unfortunately mirror the overall subpar quality. The portrayal of all Japanese characters as inherently evil adds another layer of discomfort, overshadowing what could have been a compelling biographical documentary about the cyclist. Regrettably, the film opted for a route that veers into the territory of cinematic disappointment and typical Korean propaganda and all Japanese are pure evil. You'd think in 2019 that directors and producers actually want to provide something worth filming. No idea who sponsored them, but I can guess...

Rain is excellent as the naive young cyclist Um. During the early 20th century , Um was a Korean star for beating the Japanese at races staged to show their superiority over the Koreans during their occupation . Very little is known about Um's life , but the writers created a quite interesting and poignant back story for him . The secondary story involving the Righteous Army , Korean freedom fighters , was also a creation of the writers, but is quite powerful in its depiction of the cruelty the Japanese imposed on the people . The movie works well as an inspirational sports film, and a patriotic ode to those who fought against the occupation.

The story never drags , the cinematography shows the beauty of the Korean countryside but also the moody despair of an occupied people . Good cast includes some well known Korean actors .