Mass starvation and social disorder is the norm in the wake of the Korean War. Hwa-su works as a gofer at a local theater but dreams of owning one day a theater of his own. As an adult, Hwa-su becomes a protege of powerful businessman Sohn Jong-rok and marries his niece thus becoming an heir to Sohn's business. He takes over the Je-il Theater and re-names it Peace Theater. Achieving his childhood dream is the just the beginning for Hwa-su. He ventures into the world of filmmaking. Meanwhile, crime lord Lee Jeong-jae takes Yu Ji-gwang under his wings and partners with Gwak Young-ju to build his own political clout. But when his ardent supporter Lee Gi-boong loses the vice presidential race, Jeong-jae becomes nervous. Hwa-su, now a man with immense wealth and underworld power approaches Jeong-jae and Ji-gwang to form an uneasy alliance and enter the world of rigged elections and corrupt politics.

While the government watches everything and everyone, Myonggil and Pyongsok organize a movie club called The Magnificent Seven. Later in life, after Myonggil is released from military service, he goes to visit his childhood friend and finds out that their lives have taken very different paths.