a film by robert orlando
COMING 2022
A WAR BETWEEN HOPE & DESPAIR
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
SYNOPSIS
Susie Lee, a vibrant servant of her community, has a history so few suspect, given her enviable smiling strength while fundraising for the war vets. One young filmmaker knows better and understands she has a deeper story to tell, and he is determined to unearth it. As a Korean teen, she lived in the harbor city of Incheon when the Red Army invaded in 1950. Her family makes a swift escape to safety in nearby Seoul, but Susie, disabled by polio, is left behind. Soon after, Susie boldly ventures out in search of her beloved father (a pastor).
Along the way, she sees Don, an American G.I., searching for the wounded in the war-torn terrain. He vows to help Susie achieve her quest, but North Korean troops separate them. After her escape and months on the road, she meets Soon Ja, a kindred spirit. Together, they find work in the kitchens of a North Korean military base and discover that the men want more than food. Though separated from her parents and exposed to the dangers and indignities of war, Susie’s hard-won strength, forgiving spirit, and irrepressible hope bring light to many Veterans and their families plunged into darkness. But will her true story ever make it to the big screen?
Susie Lee recognized by
President Ronald Reagan
for her service to others.