Spirits' Homecoming Returns to Theaters After 10 Years... Official Release in Japan Also Pursued

[Anchor]

Ten years ago, a film titled "Spirits' Homecoming" was created through public crowdfunding, creating a massive ripple effect. The former comfort woman victim who served as the motif for the film passed away recently, and now the movie is returning to the screen.

Reporter Lee Joo-hyoung has the story.

[Reporter]

Sprouting from a single drawing, the film achieved a miraculous box-office success in 2016 with 3.5 million viewers.

[Cho Jung-rae / Director of the film 'Spirits' Homecoming' (at the time of the initial release in 2016): I was deeply shocked when I saw the drawing titled 'Burning Virgins' drawn by grandmother Kang Il-chul. I received inspiration and began writing the screenplay.]

Amid public backlash against the Park Geun-hye administration's so-called "final and irreversible" South Korea-Japan comfort women agreement, "Spirits' Homecoming" secured its production budget through public donations and created a major sensation as the first commercial film to deal with the comfort women victims.

[Late Kang Il-chul / Comfort Woman Victim (at a special preview in 2015): Even if we leave this world, I will never forget the people of the Republic of Korea.]

At the time of its release, there were 47 surviving comfort women victims.

However, with Grandmother Kang Il-chul passing away last March, only 5 remain now.

And at the end of this month, the film will be re-released 10 years later.

[Cho Jung-rae / Director of the film 'Spirits' Homecoming': The biggest catalyst for my decision to re-release this film was the passing of the grandmother, and also because Grandmother Lee Yong-soo, one of the survivors, told me, 'Do what you can do,' which truly made up my mind.]

The re-released version, which includes 6 minutes of previously unreleased footage dealing with a Chinese victim, held a screening in Osaka, Japan, last month.

Held for just a single day with three screenings, the event drew about 200 audience members, including Zainichi Koreans as well as Japanese citizens.

[Japanese Audience Member: I felt that everyone must not remain unaware of this painful and difficult matter.]

[Japanese Audience Member: I hope people live their lives today knowing that Japan committed such acts in the past.]

"Spirits' Homecoming," which failed to secure an official release 10 years ago during its first screening in Japan due to threats from the far-right, has received an offer for an official release this time and is currently in discussions with Japanese theater representatives, the director stated.

(Reported by Choi Ho-jun | Video Editing by Ahn Yeo-jin)

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.