Film Lens
In the Absence is a short documentary that focuses on the sinking of the MV Sewol in 2014, which resulted in the deaths of 300 individuals, primarily school children from Danwon High School. The film was produced in response to a request from Field of Vision, aiming to provide context for the 2016 Candlelight Vigil that called for the impeachment of South Korean president Park Geun-hye. The director, Yi Seung-Jun, began interviewing the families of the victims in 2017, emphasizing the emotional impact of the tragedy and the subsequent societal response.
The documentary stands out by concentrating on the disaster itself rather than just the events leading up to it or the individuals held responsible. It incorporates real-time audio from first responders and multimedia messages from victims, creating a vivid portrayal of the incident and its aftermath, including the Candlelight Protests and the political consequences that followed. The film runs for approximately 29 minutes and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 92nd Academy Awards.
Why Watch
- •See real-time audio from first responders during the disaster.
- •Find out how the tragedy led to the impeachment of Park Geun-hye.
- •Meet the families of victims and hear their stories.
Did You Know
•300 people died in the MV Sewol sinking in 2014, mostly school children.
•The film was produced in response to the 2016 Candlelight Vigil.
•Yi Seung-Jun started interviewing victims' families in 2017.
•The documentary won the 2018 grand jury prize at DOC NYC.
•Before this film, no South Korean film had been nominated for an Oscar.
Perfect For
South Korean historyMaritime disastersPolitical activism