In March, 1947, a celebration of the Korean struggle against Japanese colonial rule on Jeju Island turned into a protest against what the people perceived as an attempt by the American government to separate the Korean peninsula. The police's violent reaction to the protest sparked a civil movement known as the Jeju Uprising. To quell the protests, the government sent 3,000 soldiers and a paramilitary force called the Northwest Youth Association to put down the protesters. In the end, up to one-fifth of Jeju residents were killed, and the government suppressed the truth for 50 years, until the late 1990s.
After several low-key comedies about the quirky side of his home, indie director and Jeju native O Muel now explores his homeland's dark past with Jiseul. The black-and-white drama, made for just US$190,000, looks at the Jeju Massacre from the perspective of a group of villagers hiding away from the soldiers in a cave. Visually stunning and powerful in its depiction of human nature at its worst, Jiseul has picked up accolades around the world, including three awards at the Busan International Film Festival and World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Books Published by Seoul Selection 
