YANG Yonghi
A second generation zainichi Korean director makes inquiries about the history of her activist father and mother. Over the years she records on video visits to her three brothers and their families, who migrated from Ikuno, Osaka to Pyongyang over thirty years ago. She examines her ideological differences with her parents through the dialogue of making a film, and work them out, sincerely but with humor as well.
The film I¡¯ve selected as the best documentary of my life is Dear Pyongyang (2006) directed by Yang Yong-hi. It presents a very unique perspective because director Yang Yong-hi is neither Korean nor Japanese but an ethnic Korean living in Japan. Her family's political loyalty lies with North Korea. Although her brothers have all left for North Korea, she remains more inclined towards South Korea. Inevitably, a conflict arises. With neither North Korean nor South Korean perspectives, the director visits Pyongyang and explores its innermost images. Due to the rapidly changing relations between the two Koreas, North Korea, which has thus far been regarded as a horrifying country, is now seen in a very different light. But then how well do we really know North Korea? I¡¯d like to watch this film with the audience and consider aspects of North Korea that we¡¯ve not been aware of before.
YANG Yonghi
Our Homeland (2012)
Goodbye, Pyeongyang (2009)
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