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16th DMZ Docs(2024)

I AM DOCU



Vatae KIMLEE

  • Korea
  • 2024
  • 28min
  • 12 +
  • DCP
  • color/black and white

World Premiere

Synopsis

Kyeong, a young woman in her mid-20s, navigates the familiar streets of Dong-gu, Incheon. Her days are punctuated by simple pleasures: coffee, cigarettes, and chocolate. As she settles onto a well-worn bench, the gray walls of her surroundings seem to whisper stories of her grandparents.

Review

This animated documentary offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a young woman navigating her twenties in contemporary South Korea. Her existence is marked by a familiar monotony: late nights spent in a cramped studio apartment, battling sleep with coffee and cigarettes as she struggles to complete her coursework. Dreams offer a brief respite, but she awakens to a relentless cycle of unfulfilled sleep and unfinished assignments – a scene that resonates with countless young adults today. The film deftly interweaves this quotidian reality with the life stories of the protagonist's grandparents, their voices emerging from the depths of her dreams. This juxtaposition creates a poignant connection between the young woman¡¯s struggles and the hardships endured by her elders. It also forges a ¡®bond¡¯ and ¡®identification¡¯ between the protagonist and the audience, inviting them to recognize their own lives reflected in her experiences. Through rich details, the film elevates the seemingly ordinary, revealing the profound meaning hidden within the everyday.

Director

  • Vatae KIMLEE

    The director, with a background in fine arts and history, approaches her work as a visual artist focused on fluidity in changing relationships, unconstrained by traditional forms. This interdisciplinary approach allows for innovative storytelling methods. Her notable works include Engraved(2022) and How to Become an Expert Sungnam Citizen in 5 Minutes(2019).

Credit

  • ProducerSaehoon
  • Screenwriter Vatae KIMLEE
  • Cinematography Vatae KIMLEE, Lee Junyong, CHO Eunsol
  • Editor Vatae KIMLEE
  • Sound Vatae KIMLEE, Tongxin GUO, Luuk BAAKKUM