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And Thereafter
A Korean "War Bride" in an Alien Land
| Length: | 56 min |
| Released: | 2004 |
| Ages: |
High School College Adult |
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This multi-festival film is a portrayal of the fortitude of an immigrant "war bride" in America. Seventy-six-year-old Young-Ja Wike is one of the 10,000 Korean women who married American G.I.s. after the war. For them marriage was the only escape from the crushing poverty of post-war Korea.
"Grandma" lives in South Jersey with her uncaring, rather brutish husband in a kind of domestic servitude. She has brought up three unappreciative children, working doggedly to feed the family and run the household. On her own she cultivates a colorful garden of chili peppers which she dries and sells. Never having learned English, she is isolated from the community, and from her family as well. "Grandma" opens her heart to the Korean filmmaker, revealing the pathos of forty years in exile.
"Grandma" lives in South Jersey with her uncaring, rather brutish husband in a kind of domestic servitude. She has brought up three unappreciative children, working doggedly to feed the family and run the household. On her own she cultivates a colorful garden of chili peppers which she dries and sells. Never having learned English, she is isolated from the community, and from her family as well. "Grandma" opens her heart to the Korean filmmaker, revealing the pathos of forty years in exile.
"One of the most haunting portraits of the year... In the end we can't help but admire her ability to survive and love." Vancouver International Film Festival 2004
"A dysfunctional family that can give the Friedmans a run for their money rests at the center of 'And Thereafter'." Variety
"Heartbreaking." San Francisco Bay Guardian
"This film would be excellent for viewing and discussion in college classes in history, psychology or sociology, It is highly recommended." Susan Boatright, Library, Blue River Community College, Kansas City, Mo., Educational Media Reviews on Line
"A dysfunctional family that can give the Friedmans a run for their money rests at the center of 'And Thereafter'." Variety
"Heartbreaking." San Francisco Bay Guardian
"This film would be excellent for viewing and discussion in college classes in history, psychology or sociology, It is highly recommended." Susan Boatright, Library, Blue River Community College, Kansas City, Mo., Educational Media Reviews on Line
Director's Choice, Black Maria Film Festival, 2004
Special Jury Award, Hawaii International Film Festival,2004
Silver Dove Award, Leipzig International Film Festival, 2004
Vancouver, International Film Festival, 2004
Bergen (Norway) International Film Festival, 2004
Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montreal, 2004
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, 2003
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, 2004
Asian American International Film Festival, 2004
Best Film Award, Seoul Independent Film Festival, 2003
Special Jury Award, Hawaii International Film Festival,2004
Silver Dove Award, Leipzig International Film Festival, 2004
Vancouver, International Film Festival, 2004
Bergen (Norway) International Film Festival, 2004
Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montreal, 2004
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, 2003
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, 2004
Asian American International Film Festival, 2004
Best Film Award, Seoul Independent Film Festival, 2003
