On a background of tragical events of the Korean war of 1950-1953 - the most bloody after the termination of the Second world, shows destiny of one family. Peace well-being, happy expectations, dreams and hopes fall during a uniform instant when the country is covered with chaos and horror of war. Under a roar of tanks, singing of bullets and breaks of bombs the protagonist of film Gin - тае tries to rescue the relatives, having sent them on seeming quiet the south of the Korean peninsula.
The family joined to columns of refugees, filling roads of the country, passes through deprivations and tests. But the main misfortune waited Gin - тае ahead. His younger brother force have taken away in soldiers.
Gin - тае desperately tried to prevent рекрутерам, but itself appeared in a train of recruits. The inexperienced, untrained badly armed guys immediately desert on advanced. It is ordered to them to hold defense at the river Nakdong and to not hand over positions.
For the Supreme command they - gun meat. Under heavy fire at young the soldier is few chances to survive. " 38-th parallel " - film not about war, and about human attitudes, fidelity to family values and love. The main idea of film that in war there are no winners, is only lost.