JEONJU Project

Documentary ㅣ JEONJU Lab: Feature Length

Lingering Voices

YOO Jaewon

Korea 70min 4K Color/B&W Documentary

Production StatusScenario Development

Goal of ParticipationMentoring, Production Company Meeting, Fundraising, World Sales

Production budget200,000,000 KRW

Budget Required185,000,000 KRW

Secured budget

K-DOCS Young Pitch[New Vision Awards] : 5,000,000 KRW
JEONJU International Film Festival[First Fund Grant] : 5,000,000 KRW
Self-funding : 5,000,000 KRW

LOGLINE

I begin to perceive and delve into intense emotions that still linger within me after the termination of pregnancy.

SYNOPSIS

I made a short documentary on my experience of medical abortion in Denmark in 2017. Feeling liberated from that happening, I head to Denmark to conclude this memory. Beneath the dazzling lights of Copenhagen's city, I finally realize, 'This is the beginning of the journey.' I called my ex-partner, wondering if he would welcome me in Portugal. I head to Portugal to meet him with several questions in mind. Has he already forgotten those dim times? Or do those memories still cling to him in the past?

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Some experiences completely change somebody's life. For me, it was a termination in a foreign country. It was then that I truly came to understand my body, and discovered the differences of orders. I realized that what happens within one's body is something no one else can experience on their behalf. The loop of guiltiness still haunts me. Shame, guilt, remorse. I found these words are universal among those who have had abortion. Even though I'm not religious and have no regrets about my decision, I found myself trapped by these words. Behind the sentence 'I don't regret it,' emerged a jumble of unresolved emotions within me. How can I move forward without burying the memories and experiences of the past? This project began with this question. I want to create a film that addresses the turmoil one faces in their life beyond abortion.

INTERVIEW

What inspired you to start this project?

At a moment when I contemplated continuing my film on abortion-related works, I found an article in a Korean historical newspaper archive. It was about a high school student who was investigated because she had an abortion. The article ended with speculative details such as the whereabouts of the partner and how they met. It amused me to think that even in the 1920s, such personal matters were being turned into news articles. I couldn't help but imagine that such stories could be blended to create a mystery film.

Even after I made previous shorts about termination, I have hesitation in my mind when the topic of abortion brought up in everyday life. I put a sticker on my laptop boldly stating 'Import Mifepristone!' yet find myself discreetly hiding it when families with children enter the cafe. It was at these moments that I realized, 'I am still bound by this memory.' Therefore, rather than concocting new stories, I felt it necessary to delve into and unravel these emotions, which led me to the decision to start this story.

Is there any emotion you want the audience to feel after watching this film?

During the time I was writing this, I came across a beautiful piece that I read. It was a letter sharing the emotions that actress Tang Wei felt while filming the music video of IU's song 'Shh...'. After reading that piece and subsequently writing the treatment, I suddenly wished that my film could be like a letter.

While it may seem cumbersome to write letters in an era where we can easily communicate through mobile phones, ultimately, I believe that writing a letter is a process of capturing one's heart. It involves choosing stationery while thinking of the recipient, composing sentences, and picking up a favorite pen to write... From all these steps to the precious emotions that arise when the letter reaches someone, I think the decision and act of writing a letter encapsulates all.

Perhaps the short film that I first confessed my abortion experience was solely for myself. As my first feature-length documentary, I'm pondering how it can connect with more people. I hope it becomes a film that helps us love our lives a little more and move forward, at least easing the burden of those emotions that gnaw at us.

DIRECTOR

YOO Jaewon

Yoo has worked with various film festivals and found the beauty of documentaries. She took an independent documentary filmmaking class at MediACT, starting her career as a director. Her graduation film, Nobody Called Me (2022), was selected by the Twinkle Documentary Film Festival. She co-directed omniverse documentary film What Bonds Us (2023) with queer feminist filmmakers, in which she directed a segment titled Chapter 4: Woman with No Problem.

Nobody Called Me (2022), What Bonds Us (2023)

PRODUCER

CHOI Somang

Choi has worked in production and distribution companies, as well as film festivals. Currently, she is conducting research focusing on expanding intellectual properties (IPs) and storytelling through technology. She is also actively involved in film festivals. Her connection with documentaries began in 2019. She has distributed two documentaries and worked at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, which transitioned her perspective from documentaries as a viewer to involvement in production.

I Am Breathing (2012), #jesuislà (2019), People in Elancia (2020)

CONTACTyoojaewon.film@gmail.com