本片获得1990年第28届韩国电影大钟奖最佳男配角（金熙罗）、最佳新人女演员（崔侑罗）、最佳改编剧本奖。

Doo-chil, een 46-jarige eigenaar van een kleinschalige pluimveehouder, is het hoofd van het gezin, maar zonder gezag, nogal geïntimideerd door een agressieve vrouw, schoonmoeder en drie dochters. Op een dag levert Doo-chil kippen af bij een slachthuis en ontmoet Ok-ja die daar als boekhouder werkt. Ok-ja prostitueert zichzelf 's nachts in motels en kapsalons om haar gezin te onderhouden. Hij voelt mededogen met haar en benadert Ok-ja, ze zal ook geleidelijk naar hem toe leunen, ontroerd door zijn eerlijkheid en oprechtheid.

Doo-chil, a 46 Year old small poultry farm owner, is the head of the family, yet with no authority rather intimidated by aggressive wife, mother-in-law, and three daughters. One day, Doo-chil makes delivery of chickens to a slaughter house and meets Ok-ja who works there as an accountant. Ok-ja prostitutes at night at motels and barbershops to support her family and pay for her brother's education. Doo-chil goes out for a drink with Duk-bae, the egg seller, who tries to persuade Doo-chil into marrying his daughter and later they end up at a high class barbershop where he runs into Ok-ja. He is disappointed, but since then, feeling compassion toward her, he approaches Ok-ja. Ok-ja's mind also gradually slants toward him, moved by his honesty and sincerity. One day, upon arrival at a beach about dawn, two of them witness the dazzling sunrise over the horizon and realize the beginning of their passionate relationship.

Doo-chil, propriétaire d'une petite ferme avicole de 46 ans, est le chef de famille, mais sans autorité, plutôt intimidé par une femme, une belle-mère et trois filles agressives. Un jour, Doo-chil livre des poulets à un abattoir et rencontre Ok-ja qui y travaille comme comptable. Ok-ja se prostitue la nuit dans des motels et des salons de coiffure pour subvenir aux besoins de sa famille. Eprouvant de la compassion pour elle, il s'approche d'Ok-ja, elle penchera aussi progressivement vers lui, ému par son honnêteté et sa sincérité.

두칠은 소규모양계장의 주인이자 가장이지만 억척마누라 오씨와 장모, 세 딸 사이에서 기를 못펴고 사는 46세의 남자다. 그는 양계장에서 닭똥냄새에 찌들어 일꾼노릇 밖에 못하고, 아내의 등쌀에 부부관계에서도 무능력해진 것이다. 그러던 중 두칠은 닭을 납품하러 갔다가 도계장 경리과에서 근무하는 옥자를 만난다. 그녀는 빈곤한 가족과 동생의 학비조달을 위해 퇴근후에는 퇴펴이발소와 여관을 드나들며 매춘을 하고 있다. 두칠은 큰딸 일란과의 결혼을 호소하는 계란장사 덕배와 함께 술을 마시다 단속경관을 피해 들어선 고급스러운 이발소에서 옥자를 다시 만나고는 착잡한 심경에 빠진다. 그 후 옥자에게 동질감같은 연민을 느낀 두칠은 의도적으로 그녀에게 접근한다. 옥자도 두칠의 선하고 진솔한 인간성에 점차 마음이 기운다. 도시를 떠나 동해안 새벽바닷가에 도착한 두 사람은 수면위로 솟아오르는 태양의 눈부신 일출을 보며, 비로소 자신들의 뜨거운 인생이 시작되고 있음을 느낀다.