My First Funeral
LEE Eunhye
- Korea
- 2023
- 38min
- 12 +
- DCP
- color
World Premiere
Synopsis
Being a lesbian in Korea is hard. Marriage, a happy future, or even one's own death seem far away. So this unique woman makes an unconventional choice - she arranges her first funeral! This act challenges Korea's patriarchal funeral norms and paves the way for me to face death on my own terms.
Review
The narration of My
First Funeral says “A lesbian’s funeral
prepared by homophobe” to criticize the reality where institutionalized family
relations determine a mourner. A lot of LGBTs cannot come out to family, or
their family rejects their sexual orientation. At the funeral of LGBTs, their
families do not grieve the death wholeheartedly, and those that LGBTs loved are
not welcome to visit for the last time. This film holds a funeral ceremony by
the queer community to remind the meaning and importance of self-determination.
The performance claims a community where people love and care for each other
sincerely throughout life and death, and their claim is irrefutable
Director
-
LEE Eunhye
Lee recognizes that leaving records behind is an instinct for survival. Society often dismisses the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and women as personal matters, allowing these issues to be consumed and eventually forgotten. Within this context, the presence of LGBTQ+ individuals can be systematically erased, resulting in a world that overlooks their existence. Lee asserts that creating records becomes a crucial act for LGBTQ+ individuals. Through their work, Lee aims to illuminate the genuine existence of queer LGBTQ+ individuals in our world, their struggles, and their resilience. My First Funeral (2023) marks Lee's debut as a documentary director.