Film
Jiseul
D: O Muel
Korea 2012, 108 min, English subtitles
April 1948: A popular uprising on the island of Jeju off the coast of South Korea is brutally put down by government troops. The inhabitants of one village seek shelter in a cave, where cold and hunger soon lead to desperation and despair. The film’s beautiful black-and-white images contrast with the hopelessness of the situation, creating a haunting cinematic requiem for the 27,000 victims of the forgotten massacre.
Received four awards at BIFF 2012 and the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival 2013.
O Muel (*1971) is a film and theater director from the island of Jeju. He is artistic director of the Japari Research Center, co-director of the Jeju Independent Film Society and director of the Flowered Hair Street Festival. Jiseul is his fourth feature film.
