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| ▲ This photo, provided by PanCinema, shows a scene from 'Riceboy Sleeps.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by PanCinema, shows a scene from 'Riceboy Sleeps.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Mar. 31 (Yonhap) -- So-young, who raises her son Dong-hyun all by herself, immigrates to the suburbs of Canada in 1990 where nothing seems familiar. She makes a living by working in a factory, but living as a minority Asian is harsh for this single mother.
However, she does not and could not break down as she is resolved to provide a better life for her son than the one she left behind: While fiercely confronting brawny male factory workers who sexually harass her, he single mother's heart breaks down when she watches her son getting bullied only because he is an “Asian with torn eyes” at school.
After nine years of countless heartbreaks and outbursts of tear pass, Dong-hyun finally enters puberty and becomes a teenager who enjoys hanging out with his friends rather than spending time with his mother. As she realizes that she has grown apart and emotionally distant from her son and also becomes physically ill, the once-strong mother suggests her son to go on a special trip.
This 2022 award-winning film centers on So-young, a Korean single mother, and her son who have immigrated in search of new, hopefully better, lives. By wedding autobiographical elements of director Anthony Shim with more universal concerns, this emotionally and sensorially rich film portrays a desperate and ambitious yet deeply empathetic immigrant single mother.
Set in Canada and South Korea’s Gangwon Province, the film not only received rave reviews for meticulously depicting the identity crisis and rather burdensome reality of first-generation immigrant families but also for its unique cinematography. The scenery captured by a 16 mm film camera gives the film an unparalleled texture which has viewers to be reminiscent of memories of their mothers who have grown old as well as their childhood memories that they have set aside due to their busy lives.
Loosely based on director Shim’s childhood, the budding filmmaker had his own experiences as a Korean immigrant living in Canada reflected on the story of son Dong-hyun: He himself was also a teenager who was often embarrassed by his Korean heritage and held on to his dream of no longer being treated as an alien. In the meantime, Shim always had a question lingering somewhere in his mind about his heritage and Koreanness throughout his childhood.
After his father passed away, Shim was able to confront his childhood with a clearer mind, and he was able to see who he truly was as a Korean boy who grew up in a conflicting Canadian culture.
Shim not only took the helm of this low-budget film but also played five different roles by writing the script, producing, editing, and starring. He starred as a Korean co-worker who was adopted by a Canadian family, trying to win So-young’s heart.
“I grew up watching tons of Hollywood films as a kid, and those movies tended to portray Asian women either as quiet, calm, and weak females or those who practice kung fu,” the director said during Thursday’s press conference.
So-young was played by the budding actress Choi Seung-yoon. Despite starring in her screen debut film, the dancer-turned-actress showed off her fine acting skills as eloquent as her dances.
Written and directed by Anthony Shim, “Riceboy Sleeps” raked up several honors, including nods from critics' associations and world film festivals. The film eventually secured the
Best Canadian Film of 2022 at the Toronto Film Festival.
During the press conference, Choi said, “It was amazing to witness how this small independent film gets screened at film festivals from all across the world. It was truly an honor to meet global audiences,” adding, “Yet, it is most nerve-wracking and grateful to be standing in front of Korean audiences.”
This PG-15 family film is set to hit local theaters on Apr. 19.
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)
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