Defectors directed by Hyun Kyung Kim will compete at the Buenos Aires International Documentary Film Festival which will take place from October 2 – 11, 2023 in Buenos Aires city, Argentina.

Defectors by Hyun Kyung Kim – Korea, USA | 2023 – 84 minutes | Documentary
70 years after the Korean War, filmmaker Hyun kyung Kim’s mother still lives like the war refugee she once was. She gathers discarded chairs, dishes, dolls, and plastic flowers, cramming them into every available space of her house. Kim befriends a North Korean defector who reminds her of her grandfather who mysteriously vanished during the Korean War. The war is still tragically present in Korea. Defectors is a compelling exploration that blends elements of humor and affection within a family portrait, a historical cinematic journey, and a quest for self-discovery. It delves into the lasting effects of the Korean War on multiple generations. In her interactions with a North Korean defector, Hyun kyung Kim contemplates the emotional toll of being separated from her loved ones, including her quirky and endearing mother, whom she had to leave in Korea when she relocated to the United States. (FIDBA 2023)

Trailer:

About the Director:
Hyun kyung Kim is an independent filmmaker from Seoul, South Korea. Her films have won a number of awards and have been screened in many international film festivals and art venues including Museum of the Modern Art, Centre Pompidou, FIDMarseille, Viennale, BAFICI, Busan International Film Festival, Visions du Réel and many more.

More information: https://www.fidba.org/