Synopsis

Mun Jeong-hyun’s documentary is not only about his family history but also the history of South Korea. After discovering his great-uncle’s diaries, the director traced his complex family tree from the Japanese occupation to the Korean War to the postwar era. The ideological rift that split the country also ripped through his family and their mountain village, planting scars and strife that linger to the present day. Uncovering the past through writings, photographs, archival footage and interviews, Mun reveals the struggles and secrets of his left-leaning relatives who were persecuted for their political beliefs. This powerful, haunting family essay acutely encapsulates the painful conflicts that have divided and shaped modern Korea.