The 15th International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul

In the previous feature on the upcoming 15th Women’s Film Festival in Seoul, the films in the ‘New Currents’ category were discussed and profiled. The films display the festival’s desire to tackle a range of issues related to women from documentaries about pivotal figures, animations involving sexual relations, and more traditional dramatic fare concerning relationships and peer/societal pressure.

Yet other areas of the program also emphasize WFFIS’s ability to give women filmmakers a platform in which to share their perspective on society, and to ‘see the world through women’s eyes.’ In this article two such categories are covered. The ‘Asian Spectrum: The Coming of Age in Asian Women Filmmaking’ focuses on young female visionaries who portray the issues young Asian women face. Meanwhile, ‘Polemics: The Constellation of the Violence Against Women’ explores the different forms of pressure and assaults that women are threatened with and/or experience, and examinations the structures of (gendered) power so often inherent in such debates.

Asian Spectrum: The Coming of Age in Asian Women Filmmaking

Give Me Back My Cat (고양이를 돌려줘)

Give Me Back My Cat (고양이를 돌려줘)

Director: Jung Jae-eun (정재은)

Synopsis: When a couple are forced to give their cat Kuma up for adoption,  they are devastated. Luckily their friend is Kuma’s new owner, yet when she refuses to hand the feline back drama ensues.

Polemics: The Constellation of the Violence Against Women

Bad Scene (배드신)

Bad Scene (배드신)

Director: Jeon Go-woon (전고운)

Synopsis: The 18 minute short depicts an unknown actress who lands a role in a film. The catch is that a bed scene is required, and the aspiring performer is conflicted over playing the part well.

Deviation (도착)

Deviation (도착)

Director: Lee Min-beh (이민배)

Synopsis: On the subway Su-jin overhears a celebrity scandal involving a sex-tape. Yet she is also surprised to see her boyfriend being arrested and decides to follow him.

My, No Mercy Home (잔인한 나의, 홈)

My, No Mercy Home (잔인한 나의, 홈)

Director: Aori (아오리)

Synopsis: The documentary explores the life of a woman who was sexually abused by her father. When no-one believed her, she ran away and sued him to spare her siblings, with shocking results.