The film
The film, which sparked a nationwide response when it was released in 2016, was created based on the late Grandma Kang Il-chul's painting "Girls Being Burned." The newly presented screening version adds narratives of women from various Asian countries who endured similar pain to the existing content, capturing the transnational solidarity and friendship of girls who did not let go of each other's hands even in the midst of devastating despair.
The revealed main poster shows 14-year-old Jeong-min and 15-year-old Young-hee embracing each other and smiling brightly, with the caption "Only 5 of the girls who smiled like this remain by our side. Please embrace them before it's too late." This simultaneously recalls the miracle achieved by the people's hearts coming together ten years ago, while juxtaposing the bright smiles with the cruel reality, vividly evoking the historical responsibility that must not be forgotten.
Ahead of the release, director Jo Jung-rae released a "Director's Statement" conveying an urgent sentiment, saying "Now only five survivors remain alive. We truly have no time."
Director Jo revealed, "Grandma Kang Il-chul, who was the real protagonist of the film, passed away in March of this year, and following the request from Grandma Lee Yong-su, whom I met at a screening in Daegu, I decided to re-release the film." The number of survivors, which was 47 ten years ago, has now dwindled to 5.
He continued, "For the many victims, true resolution means the Japanese government acknowledging responsibility, offering an official apology, and leaving that history correctly for future generations," and added, "I hope this screening will help us remember the history that is being forgotten, and become a small cultural record that remembers the dignity and honor of the victims."
