Director - Hyun kyung Kim
Run Time - 84 minutes
Language - Korean w/English subtitles
Format - Digital
Year - 2023
Genre - Documentary

Educational Interests - Aging, Asia, Cold War Era, Cultural Studies, Family Relations, History (World), New Releases, Political Science, Psychology, Women's Studies

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The filmmaker's encounter with a North Korean defector mirrors the story of her grandfather, who likely stayed in the North when the country became divided, never to be seen again by his family. Defectors confronts the impact of a brutal war on several generations of the filmmaker's family.

FIDBA 2023: Best Documentary Award
Jury statement: ''For a compelling exploration that combines elements of humor and affection within a family portrait, a historic cinematic journey, and a personal search.''

Visions du Réel 2023: Special Jury Award
Jury statement: "Love, loss, guilt and mystery, merge and shift this family portrait into a complex reflection on migration and identity, explored through the prism of history and political issues."

"South Korean filmmaker Hyun kyung Kim confronts the impact of the Korean War on different generations in her latest documentary Defectors. The film, which played in competition at the 15th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, is also a deeply personal work focusing on the director, her family, and the very meaning of 'defection'." - Matt Schley, Screen International

"With rare emotion and sensitivity, the director confronts the impact of the war on several generations while revealing the weight it still exerts to this day. Defectors offers a poignant perspective on the collective wound inflicted by the war and questions what it means to be separated from those you love." - Alice Riva, Visions du Réel