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16th DMZ Docs(2024)

I AM DOCU



KWON Ohyeon

  • Korea
  • 2023
  • 71min
  • 15 +
  • DCP
  • color

Synopsis

On October 29, 2022, the neon-lit streets of Itaewon were illuminated by the red glow of dozens of ambulances. Even before the victims' funerals were completed, a peculiar memorial altar appeared in front of Seoul City Hall, composed entirely of pure white chrysanthemums and a plaque that read, "Deceased in the Itaewon Accident." In defiance of this hollow memorial, which seemed to promote forgetfulness rather than mourning, the families of the victims donned bright red shawls and took to the snowy white streets of Itaewon. The film explores the attempts, changes, frustrations, and solidarity that have emerged in the aftermath. For us, the Itaewon tragedy is far from over. 

Review

On October 29, 2022, 159 lives were tragically lost in Itaewon, Seoul—an event that struck less than a decade after the Sewol Ferry disaster, while the wounds were still raw. How many more lives must be sacrificed before we achieve a truly safe society? The Sea Knows, produced by the Media Team of the Citizens' Countermeasure Committee for the Itaewon Tragedy, follows the journey of the victims' families, survivors, and others who carry the weight of that day over the course of a year. This journey confronts not only the evasion of responsibility by politicians and officials and the hateful remarks directed at the victims, but also something deeper. Released on the first anniversary of the tragedy, the film reveals a year marked by shared grief, comfort, and solidarity for those burdened with immeasurable sorrow. Their words and actions hold the key to creating a safer society. "If you desire safety, remember the tragedy." The film implores us to watch, to carry the memory beyond the theater, to never forget, and to build even stronger bonds of solidarity. 

Director

  • KWON Ohyeon

    Following the Itaewon Tragedy, the director joined the Media Team of the Citizens' Countermeasure Committee for the Itaewon Tragedy, dedicating their work to documenting the "aftermath of disaster." In an era overflowing with images, the director strives to find the significance of a camera that remains close and bears witness. She co-directed Finding Unnamed (2017), a film capturing the conversations around feminism sparked by the 2016 Seocho-dong public-toilet murder case, and Teleporting (2022), which explores the friendship shared by four feminists living in Korea and Japan during the COVID-19 era.

Credit

  • ProducerJUNG Gawon
  • Cinematography PARK Myunghoon , Saehoon, SHIN Hosun
  • Music PYO Yongsoo
  • Sound CHOI Jungjoo