May 18 (film)

May 18, also known as Splendid Holiday or Hwaryeohan Hyuga (Korean: 화려한 휴가; RR: Hwaryeohan Hyuga), is a 2007 South Korean historical drama film directed by Kim Ji-hoon. The film is based on the Gwangju Uprising that occurred in May 1980 in Gwangju, South Korea. It depicts the events surrounding the uprising through the eyes of ordinary citizens caught in the conflict between the military and the protestors. The narrative centers on a taxi driver named Min-woo and his younger brother Jin-woo, along with a nurse named Shin-ae, as they navigate the escalating violence and strive to protect their community. The film explores themes of family, sacrifice, and the struggle for democracy against authoritarian oppression. May 18 was a commercial success in South Korea and is noted for its depiction of a significant event in modern Korean history.