Synopsis
Filmmaker Arum Nam’s parents are part of the proud 386 generation, which played a significant role in achieving democratization in South Korea. Eager to pass on a better world to Arum, her father became a public servant, and her mother, a feminist activist. But Arum’s perspective shifts at 18 with the Sewol ferry disaster. Also reflecting on events like #MeToo and impeachment, Arum ponders her generation’s role in shaping South Korea’s political landscape.
A word from Tënk
With her first feature-length documentary, the filmmaker paints a portrait of her family, set against the backdrop of South Korea’s collective history. Her parents belong to the so-called “386 generation” who were politically active in the movement that, in 1987, brought an end to the authoritarian regime in power, introduced universal suffrage, and established democratic reforms. Around 35 years later, her mother continues to be an active activist, while her father, more conformist, has become a high-ranking government official. By exploring this stark contrast between them, the filmmaker questions the current state of democracy and seeks her own way of contributing to societal transformation—particularly in the context of protests linked to the #MeToo movement. She also revisits what appears to have been a pivotal event in the political awakening of her own generation: the public outcry over the government’s inadequate response to the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which claimed the lives of 304 people, most of them teenagers. Through a handcrafted, diary-like cinematic approach, a compelling and subjective perspective on contemporary Korea emerges from her personal experience.
Hubert Sabino-Brunette
Programmer and teacher
