서울국제여성영화제

“Laugh Matters. One of the most frequent remarks I heard after deciding to make a film was, “How can you make a film if you are always laughing?” It was such unsolicited advice. While making Patriotic Girl, I spent most of my time berating myself for laughing to defuse contentious situations. Then I received a request to create the trailer for this year’s festival, which has the slogan ‘Laugh Matters’. It felt like a comforting message, saying, “You utilized laughter so effectively while making the film, so why did you worry unnecessarily?” In truth, laughter was my most important weapon.

Many female directors had to survive in the film industry using laughter as their weapon. Moments when they had no choice but to laugh at rude comments, moments when they had to lead the film with forced smiles, and moments when they persuaded people with warm laughter. Through making the trailer, I encountered the films in the Asian Shorts section that were completed through such struggles with laughter; the faces that bring faint smiles just by looking at them, to the faces that confront the world with resolute cynicism. I had the privilege of ‘capturing’ the radiant faces of these women. I was able to complete the trailer with their laughter.

Above all, while watching the women in the films, I decided not to hate myself too much for having to defuse many things with laughter. I decided to understand that there were valid reasons for sometimes having to hide behind laughter. And sometimes, I decided to have the ‘courage not to laugh.’ I hope we do not lose the realization that we possess the powerful weapon of laughter! Clingy, turbulent, and noisy emotions somehow have their ‘usefulness.’

P.S. I also extend my deep gratitude to those who donated videos of their childhood laughter!”