Sign in

Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War

1993·Movie
1h 19min
64
DecentGoodWatch score

Watch

Not streaming in any country yet.

Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace4
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family and growing up.

  • Pathos9
  • Family Dynamics9
  • Melancholy8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor3
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Situational Comedy1

World

History, family, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Novelty6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

A young Japanese actress remembers her war childhood in Korea. Her father goes to fight, her baby sister Miko dies of typhoid, her beloved Korean maid Ohana is fired due to a mistake which could cost Chiko her life... By and by Chiko realizes that the country is being ruled by the Japanese and the Koreans are persecuted. When the war ends, the Koreans chase the Japanese rule and the roles change. Now Chiko's family is unwanted. But then the Russians come and this is the end. They have to burn all the pictures to avoid all suspicions... even Miko's picture. But when the Russians come to their house, they decide to flee over the 38th Parallel towards freedom. A group of men, women, children struggles along the mountains, led by the light of the Northern Star. Along the way they meet a Korean man, who is willing to help them to escape the Russian soldiers although his family was killed by the Japanese.
War DramaJapanese ColonialismKorean WarChildhood TraumaHistorical MelodramaFamily SeparationLoss and ResilienceRefugee StoryHumanitarianPeriod Piece

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 65/100 (IMDb 6.8). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War rated?

ViolenceSuicide themes

Content advisories: violence and suicide themes.

How long is Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War?

1 h 19 min

Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War runs 1 h 19 min.

What language is Rail of the Star - A True Story of Children and War in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.