In the Absence

In the Absence (Korean: 부재의기억) is a 2018 South Korean–American[1][2] short documentary film that depicts the sinking of the MV Sewol in 2014, in which three hundred people – mostly school children from Danwon High School – lost their lives.[3]

In the Absence
Directed bySeung-jun Yi
Based onSinking of MV Sewol
Production
companies
416 Documenting Group
Field of Vision (II)
First Look Media
Korea Communications Agency
Distributed byField of Vision (II)
Running time
28 Minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean

Production

The film was requested by the film distributor Field of vision,who was looking for a short documentary regarding the background for the 2016 Candelight Vigil for the impeachment of then South Korean president Park Geun-hye. With guilt that he has not participated in documenting the moments of the sewol incident as it happened, the film has focused on tracing the origins of the sufferings caused by the incident. In the original version, there was a scene that involved the mothers of the drowned students crying as the salvaged vessel approached the dock, but was cut from the final version,saying that such overwhelming reactions will prevent the audience from empathizing with the mothers.[4] The film was produced by Gary Byung-Seok Kam and directed by Yi Seung-Jun, with Seung-Jun beginning the process of interviewing the victims families on camera in 2017.[5] The documentary is seen as separated from other documentaries about the disaster, due to the fact that it highlights the disaster and not just the events leading up to the event and/or those responsible for the tragedy.[6]

Format

The documentary utilizes audio from first responders and government officials, aerial video from choppers, and cell phone video and multi-media messages from the victims of the ferry sinking to showcase the disaster in real time.[5] The entire documentary is roughly 29-minutes long, and highlights how the disaster could have been avoided and the aftermath of the disaster such as the Candlelight Protests and the Impeachment of Park Geun-hye.[7]

Awards

The documentary was awarded the 2018 grand jury prize for short competition in DOC NYC, a documentary film festival in the United States.[5]

In the Absence was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject)[8][9] at the 92nd Academy Awards.[10][11][12][13] Before this nomination (and Parasite’s nominations), no South Korean film had ever been nominated for an Oscar.[14]

See also

References
  1. "In the Absence [programme note]". IDFA. 2018. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  2. "The Lost: Meet the Press Film Festival with AFI". NBC News. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  3. Film Pittsburgh
  4. "<부재의 기억>을 기억해보다". docking. 2020-06-22.
  5. Carey, Matthew (2020-01-31). "Oscar-Nominated 'In The Absence' Takes Haunting Look At Sewol Ferry Disaster". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  6. Jang-wong, Lim (February 10, 2020). "'In the Absence' raises international awareness of Sewol ferry disaster". The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  7. Rich, Katey. "It's Not Just Parasite: Watch the Other South Korean Film Poised to Make Oscar History". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  8. "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)" wins Best Documentary Short Subject-Oscars on YouTube
  9. 2020|Oscars.org
  10. Short of the Week
  11. Sewol Ferry Tragedy Documentary "In the Absence" Receives Oscar Nomination|Soompi
  12. S. Korean Documentary 'In the Absence' on Sewol Sinking Nominated for Oscar|KBS World Radio
  13. Oscar-nominated short films showing in Connecticut theaters - Hartford Courant
  14. Violet Kim (2020-02-04). "The Filmmakers Behind In the Absence on What It Can Teach Americans". Slate. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
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