‘My Name Is’ By Director Jung Ji-young, Portraying the Jeju 4.3 Incident, Moves Berlin Audiences to Tears
Director Jung Ji-young's new film, 'My Name Is', premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, evoking strong emotional responses from the audience regarding the Jeju 4.3 Incident.
The film 'My Name Is', directed by Jung Ji-young, made its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on February 13 and 14, capturing the profound emotional resonance of the Jeju 4.3 Incident. During the screening at the Cubix 8 theater in Alexanderplatz, the audience's reactions were overwhelmingly positive, characterized by tears and applause, particularly during a lengthy ending credit roll that acknowledged the many names of those who suffered during this historical event.
The narrative spans multiple timelines and encapsulates modern Korean history through the lens of a mother and son living in Jeju Island. The son, a high school student, grapples with personal identity issues and school dynamics, while the mother, who teaches traditional Korean dance, faces a debilitating illness that connects the past and present. The film intricately weaves personal struggles with historical context, allowing viewers to engage deeply with the characters' experiences, demonstrating how history still impacts personal lives today.
Following the screening, a Q&A session revealed the director's intent to provoke curiosity about the Jeju 4.3 incident among audiences, encouraging them to seek answers. Jung emphasized that the characters are inspired by real testimonies, noting that Jeju carries a legacy of painful history beyond the 4.3 incident. By centralizing dance as a crucial medium in the film, he highlighted its significance in navigating and expressing this complex historical narrative, thereby making the film not just a retelling of past events but a vital conversation starter for contemporary societal reflection.