What is the typical birthday gift that parents give to their daughters? Probably a cake, a big stuffed panda, or a pretty dress. However, this is not the case with Nam Arum. The director and protagonist of her own first feature-length documentary, K-Family Affairs (2023), was given democracy. Yes, de-mo-cra-cy, not de-co-ra-ti-on.
On Arum’s birthday, South Korea celebrated the election of Roh Tae-Woo as the first democratically elected president. On her 8th birthday, instead of a birthday song, the girl sang the South Korean national anthem. “I was raised to be a patriot by my patriotic parents.”
Arum was born into Generation 386, a student movement group that played an integral and significant role in shaping the history of political democratization in South Korea. Both her parents were student activists in the 1980s. The difference is that while her mother was vocal in voicing her aspirations on the streets, her father was more active in the movement through the student press. Now, her mother devotes herself as a feminist activist while the father devotes himself to the government as a civil servant. Both are struggling to materialize the ideals of democratic progress for the nation and future generations.
From a young age, Arum’s playground was a rally. Her mother took her to street demonstrations; from opposing patriarchy in the government system, to advocating for equality, to fighting for women’s rights. Often, they would protest in front of her father’s office.
On Arum’s 18th birthday, the Sewol disaster happened. The government was considered negligent and slow to evacuate the sinking ship so that 304 lives, most of whom were high school students like Arum, were lost. Her father, who was working at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the time, had to step in to face the demands and anger of South Koreans. The growing wave of protests against the government no doubt made Arum feel that everyone was blaming her father. She wrote to her father:
“I have no words of support for you as you’re responsible for handling this tragedy that must not be forgotten. Continue to feel guilty and blame yourself. I hope this incident will remind you of why you became a civil servant in the first place.”
Born in a democratic family, Arum grew up to be a critical person. The spirit of Generation 386 that she inherited made her unable to remain silent amidst the polemics in her homeland. As if repeating the history of her parents, during her university years, Arum became actively involved in various student movements. She co-founded a gender equality organization and began to find her calling to fight for change and progress through collective actions with her friends.
It is as if she has transformed herself into her mother of the past in the present. Arum believes, as her mother did, that the world is full of many forms of problems, but those who dare to speak out will be able to change it. This cross-generational exploration to trace democracy through the history of her family and nation is presented in the Utopia/Dystopia program of FFD 2024. (Hesty N. Tyas) (Ed. Vanis/Trans. Naufal Shabri)
Film Details
K-Family Affairs (애국소녀)
Arum Nam | 90 Min | 2023 | South Korea
Official Selection for Utopia/Dystopia
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024
Screening Schedule
Nov. 2 | 19:00 WIB | Amphitheater, TBY
Nov. 5 | 19:00 WIB | Ruang Seminar, TBY
