Jiseul

A local film worthy of notice, the monochrome JISEUL is the fourth film by Jeju director O Muel. It is based on the true story of the townsfolk that took sanctuary in a cave during an uprising on the island in April 1948. The Jeju 4.3 Uprising, as it later became known, was sparked when the American military regime incited social strife and subsequent conflicts that lasted until September 1954. Almost 30,000 people are estimated to have been killed–most of them civilians. The reason why the modest film feels like a solemn requiem may be rooted in resentment. Although the ire over the slaughtered innocents might be sitting at the fore of director O’s mind, the film itself never explicitly expresses it. It reveals bits of lives–quarrels, conflicts, reconciliation and comfort, sometimes nonchalantly and sometimes dramatically. Ironically, because of this, the pain stings that much more. Narrative structure choices, scale as an independent film and sound effects all go toward enhancing the impression of a requiem.