JUNG
World Premiere
All That Connects Us is a documentary on the theme of transmission. It addresses the universal questions of our roots, our history, that of our family, the bond that unites and sometimes separates. How can we build ourselves and what can we pass on to our children when part of our past is unknown to us? This film is the story of the passing of the baton from a mother with her baggage as a Korean adoptee, to her teenage daughter, at a time when identity construction is at its peak, a pivotal and delicate period of breaking with childhood.
Everything that Connects Us marks director Jung's return to Korean society, a decade after his acclaimed autobiographical work Approved for Adoption. While his previous film depicted his tumultuous experience as an adoptee, this new documentary follows another adoptee, Laetitia—who is also Jung's fiancée—and her daughter on an emotionally charged journey of discovery. The film chronicles Laetitia's quest in Korea as she visits adoption agencies in search of her records, connects with fellow adoptees to share experiences, and explores both iconic landmarks and ordinary streets. Her endeavor to uncover her origins evolves into a profound process of healing from the trauma of abandonment and disconnection, ultimately forging a new identity to share with her daughter. True to its title, the documentary illustrates how every encounter and experience forms new connections, even utilizing the very instances of disconnection as a foundation for bonding. While often tinged with melancholy and pain, this journey also leads to moments of solace and restoration. Jung's film captures, with both emotional depth and intellectual rigor, the unique process by which adoptees—belonging fully to neither culture but connected to both—reconstruct their identities.
JUNG
Born in Korea, 1965. the director was adopted at age five by a Belgian family. His works as a filmmaker and graphic novel author primarily explore themes of roots, identity, and heritage. The co-directed film Approved for Adoption (2012), created with Laurent Boileau, received numerous accolades, including the Audience Award and UNICEF Award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, as well as the Grand Prize and Audience Award at the Animafest Zagreb.