We Share Our Own Language: Korean Women’s Cinema Chosen by Johee Oh

What does nationality mean today? How is Korean cinema defined in the current era?

This short film program seeks to redefine Korean cinema through the lens of transnationalism. The four directors in this program share key characteristics: they are all women and immigrants. Additionally, Korean is spoken in their films. As such, their works are categorized as Korean cinema, regardless of when and where they were made or the nationality of their protagonists. At a time when national borders are called into question and a history of immigration shapes our world, we will collectively explore the evolution of Korean cinema. (JO)

Johee Oh is a Korean filmmaker based in Korea, Vietnam and Germany and is focusing particularly on the subject of diaspora, social integration and identity.

거북이 (The Turtle)

Yara Gari, South Korea 2023, 14 min. Korean, Mandarin with English subtitles

세이 썸띵 (Say Something)

Jiin Oh, USA, South Korea 2023, 13 min. Korean, English with English subtitles

같은 하늘 아래서 (The Good Samaritan Girl)

Johee Oh, Germany, Korea 2023, 29 min. German, Korean, Kurdish with English subtitles

부서진 밤 (Broken Night)Y

ang Hyo-joo, Korea 2010, 23 min. Korean with English subtitles

Followed by a talk with Yang Hyo-joo

In The Turtle, a half-Korean/half-Chinese kid must navigate the challenges of a new home and cultural identity when a turtle’s discovery and a misunderstanding take her on an unexpected journey of self-discovery. Fresh from Seoul, a teen girl struggles to find a connection in her new home until she sees the church band’s drummer and strikes up a daring idea to get his attention in Say Something. A refugee becomes a Samaritan in The Good Samaritan Girl, a film about the lives of two girls who are out of touch with society and their friendship across different cultural circles. Broken Night follows Kyoung-pyo, a man who earns a living as an insurance fraudster. He and his partner fake car accidents and claim the insurance payments. Their scam works well until one evening after another ‘accident’ he is involved in a real accident, causing a dazzling series of events to unfold. (JO)

Yang Hyo-joo is an autodidact based in Berlin and Seoul. Her focus is the interplay between artistic experimentation and narrative filmmaking.