During the Korean War, Hwanghae Province in North Korea was the setting of a gruesome 52 day massacre. In an act of collective amnesia the atrocities were attributed to American military, but in truth they resulted from strife between Christian and Communist neighbours. 40 years later, Ryu Yosop, a minister living in America, returns to his home village where his older brother once played a notorious role in the bloodshed. Besieged by vivid memories and visited by the troubled spirits of the deceased, Yosop must face the survivors of the tragedy and lay his brother's soul to rest. Internationally renowned author Hwang Sok-yong brings to life a dark chapter of history, a story of a family's quest to redeem one brother's legacy of hate and a generation's struggle for reconciliation.