Synopsis

Notsae shares childhood stories with her daughter Eunsung. She reminisces about her first love who was drafted into the military, the day electricity first arrived in the village, and her dearly missed mother. As she unfolds memories, Notsae's longing for the irrevocable hometown deepens. Eunsung decides to illustrate her mother's life through a comic.

Director's Comment

In an individual's life, there is history, and within history, countless lives intertwine. We hoped that the lives of three women, transitioning from the early 20th century to the post-Korean War era— from the Japanese occupation to liberation, and through the challenges of the Korean War and the subsequent division of the peninsula— would be more than mere historical facts. We wished these narratives to be perceived as not just the history of the Korean Peninsula but as the stories of my family and our community, where transitions from hardship to resilience are woven into the fabric of our shared experiences.

Staff

Producers GIM Boseong, KWAK Young-jin, KWAK Eunjung

Scenario/Storyboard KIM Soyoung, JANG Minhee

BG KIM Soyoung, JANG Minhee, LEE Jihye

Lay out KIM Soyoung, JANG Minhee, KIM Jonghwan, JEON Soeun

Animation KIM Seungyeon, KIM Jisoo, KIM Jonghwan, KIM Taeksoo, NOH Yukyung, PARK Inmok, PARK Yeongeun, SHIN Seokho, SHIN Yeonsoo, SHIN Useong, AN Ji-won, AN Hyunjung, YEO Jayeon, YOO Chaerin, ZANG Taehee, JUNG Wonhee, TSERENDORJ Myahmarhav, CHOI Dayeon, CHOI Yebon, CHOI Heejin, YOO Jiyeon, YOO Sumin, SHIN Dohyun, IN Seungkyo, MOON Sujin, YANG Haerim

Camera/Effect PARK Minjeong, GIM Boseong, SHIN Seokho

Sound HONG Seongjun, PARK Chorong, JEONG Jinyoung

Music LEE Jaram, KIM Jungmin

Voice LEE Serena, JANG Mi, HYEON Gyeong-su

Editing PARK Minjeong, GIM Boseong, SHIN Seokho

Detailed description

A decent new house built after tearing down an old house. However, the house that the mother misses the most is the place of her hometown that she can no longer go back to. [My Mother's Story] is based on the cartoon by KIM Eunsung, is a record of memories and stories of her hometown told by her mother, Notsae. Born in a small village in North Hamgyong Province during the Japanese occupation, she got married in a hurry not to be taken to the military comfort women and was liberated. The story of a mother who has lived while raising her children amid the whirlwind of the Korean War is the story of modern Korean history itself and of all the women in the land who have penetrated through turbulent times. The warm color that is added while faithfully reproducing the original painting adds a warm depth of emotion to the message of comfort and solidarity sent to the mother who has lived through a rough time as a daughter and as a woman. The work reminds people of the importance of the small story of each and every single person who lives a great stem of history silently. MO Eunyoung