SUN Hobin, NA Baru
World Premiere
In the 2017 FA Cup Round of 32 matches between FC Seoul and FC Anyang, the stands and the field were engulfed in a sea of red smoke. It's not a fire, it's the explosion of dozens of red smoke bombs, commonly known as "hongyeom." Who created this scene? Sukhavati tells the story of the protagonists, the supporters group RED of FC Anyang. Co-directed by Na baru, who is a native of Anyang and the co-founder of RED, and SUN Hobin, known for the film Myeoneuri – My Son¡¯s Crazy Wife, the documentary explores the soccer culture they've added to the somewhat monotonous industrial city of Anyang while encountering members of RED. Originally supporters of LG Cheetahs, who were based in Anyang, they retained the name RED even after LG Cheetahs relocated their base to Seoul. Their passionate support for the team led to a movement to create a new soccer team in Anyang, eventually resulting in the founding of the citizen-owned club FC Anyang after a long struggle. The two co-directors spend extensive time with the founders of RED and other supporters, capturing their joys and sorrows in a multidimensional way. The film showcases the history, culture, and daily lives of the city's citizens like a moving comic, creating an authentic and vibrant local film. Just as an important soccer star's saying goes, what matters is an unbroken spirit. FC Sukhavati is a tribute to those who truly embody this sentiment by aligning soccer with life and to the city to which they dedicate themselves.
SUN Hobin
Born in Seoul in 1981. While in college, he covered the protests of students opposing the honorary doctorate award ceremony of Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee and released his first feature, Reds (2011). Since then, he has been actively engaged in documentary filmmaking.
NA Baru
Born in Naju, Jeollanam-do, in 1984. Since childhood, he had a vague desire to become a filmmaker, but didn't do anything about it. In his thirties, he got his act together and began making documentary films from 2013. He has directed two feature-length films and participated in various works, including Myeoneuri: My Son¡¯s Crazy Wife (2017) and Old Marine Boy (2017).