3 reviews
The strength of After the Sewol comes in how it moves quickly past the sinking itself and moves into new territory of how the families and those involved have coped with uncovering the truth of what happened that day. Fingers get pointed and numerous questions I think the general population had never considered get raised in a very suitable fashion.
The film then explores more about similar safety disasters in Korea's recent history and how the rapid development of the country is often looked at as a reason for this lack of safety protocols or adherence to safety.
I'll let the powerful interviews with those who lost loved ones speak for themselves as far as their ideas and theories, but I will say that two particular moments really touched me.
1. During the opening credits, homage is paid to the victims as the names of those who perished sink silently into the murky blackness of the screen, one after another. In the audience, we are helpless to save those names and can only watch, just as many of us did on that day in April when we watched the real ferry sink on live TV.
2. Near the end of the film, there's a moment when the interview subjects all take a pause from speaking, shift their gazes from the off-camera interviewer, and stare directly at you, the viewer, holding your gaze for a powerful few seconds.
These two moments really hit home for me. Definitely the strongest documentary of its kind out there. Kudos to Matt and Neil for doing such a respectful job!
The film then explores more about similar safety disasters in Korea's recent history and how the rapid development of the country is often looked at as a reason for this lack of safety protocols or adherence to safety.
I'll let the powerful interviews with those who lost loved ones speak for themselves as far as their ideas and theories, but I will say that two particular moments really touched me.
1. During the opening credits, homage is paid to the victims as the names of those who perished sink silently into the murky blackness of the screen, one after another. In the audience, we are helpless to save those names and can only watch, just as many of us did on that day in April when we watched the real ferry sink on live TV.
2. Near the end of the film, there's a moment when the interview subjects all take a pause from speaking, shift their gazes from the off-camera interviewer, and stare directly at you, the viewer, holding your gaze for a powerful few seconds.
These two moments really hit home for me. Definitely the strongest documentary of its kind out there. Kudos to Matt and Neil for doing such a respectful job!
- bvanhise-638-120834
- May 5, 2017
- Permalink
Most of the time we watch movies to distract us from life, escapism we
call it. Sometimes this can be looked down upon but I believe there is
a place for those kinds of movies.
Having said that, this incredible documentary stares you straight in the face and asks 'Why?'. Not for you to answer but to realize that sometimes we cannot hide, we cannot escape, and we must stand up together and repeat the question of, 'Why?', together so it rings so loud that those in power must listen and act.
From the moment I saw the trailer with Senator Saunders quote "Change never takes place from the top down. It takes place when people, by the millions, sometimes over decades and some times over centuries, determine that the status quo, the world that they see in front of them, is NOT the world that should be. And young people stand in front of the world today and say, 'No, this is not the world that I am comfortable with. This is the world we are going to change.'" I knew that this would be an important film. Having had the privilege of having watched it, it is confirmed.
Given what is transpiring around the world, the South Korean people made democracy shine once more and this film captures that in the most melancholic way imaginable. Because although there is a sense of triumph, it is accompanied by the deepest sorrow for the lives of children that seemed so wantonly wasted. Now all that is left behind is the families of those poor kids to ask the question which we must all ask in a load roar.
WHY?
Having said that, this incredible documentary stares you straight in the face and asks 'Why?'. Not for you to answer but to realize that sometimes we cannot hide, we cannot escape, and we must stand up together and repeat the question of, 'Why?', together so it rings so loud that those in power must listen and act.
From the moment I saw the trailer with Senator Saunders quote "Change never takes place from the top down. It takes place when people, by the millions, sometimes over decades and some times over centuries, determine that the status quo, the world that they see in front of them, is NOT the world that should be. And young people stand in front of the world today and say, 'No, this is not the world that I am comfortable with. This is the world we are going to change.'" I knew that this would be an important film. Having had the privilege of having watched it, it is confirmed.
Given what is transpiring around the world, the South Korean people made democracy shine once more and this film captures that in the most melancholic way imaginable. Because although there is a sense of triumph, it is accompanied by the deepest sorrow for the lives of children that seemed so wantonly wasted. Now all that is left behind is the families of those poor kids to ask the question which we must all ask in a load roar.
WHY?
- neilgeorge1-170-226473
- Mar 4, 2018
- Permalink
After the Sewol is an extremely insightful and touching movie. Not only does it reveal previously unknown truths about South Korea's past, present and future, it also tells the tale of loss and those who will do whatever it takes to gain closure for that lose. It immerses you into the world of the families that have lost their loved ones to the Sewol catastrophe and shows us how important safety is in our modern world. A must watch for anybody.