Watch MoviestoWatch. Taking place in the 1930s on one island of the Japanese Empire, a few Pinginumu or the ‘escapees,’ attempt to flee from the infamous Green Jail coal mine but lose their way. They suffer from starvation, risk a brutal beat-up if caught, or if lucky, they swim to regain freedom. They become the hungry wandering living-ghosts. After the war, locals have more or less witnessed the miners’ ghosts that remain wandering about, as if they were still the poor souls that lost direction.