On November 18, The Ghosts of Jeju was screened at Okinawa University. More than 100 people attended and it left people in tears.
Not a day goes by that I am not humbled by how people the world over have received this film. It is now available in Korean, Japanese, and French with subtitles. The Spanish and Russian translations are underway…all tedious work done by volunteers who have been moved by the Story of Jeju.
Here’s a rather lengthy comment from Natsuhiko Watase, a Japanese non-fiction writer after viewing The Ghosts of Jeju at Okinawa University. There were over 100 people in attendance.
Thank you for the last evening.
I am glad that I made it.
Ms. Shiroma (the organizer/local activist) asked me to send my thoughts to you, which I did to FB but I am copying and pasting it here in e-mail.
I saw a documentary film “the Ghost of Jeju”
Post film talk session surrounding Rachel Clark who had introduced this film, was good thing to participate. For the sake of the US military industry, they make bases and start wars!
Wars kill innocent people in a huge scale, construction of bases violates human rights of local residents, and destroy their precious nature. This film conveys this message very well.
At the Sakurazaka Theater, I have seen “the Crombie” which deals with people who oppose the construction of the naval base in Jeju (in a different way). Tonight’s experience further deepened my understanding.
Some images overlapped with “the Targeted Village” by Chie Miami and “the Pressured to Kill in the Ocean” by Yukihisa Fujimoto and Asako Kageyama, in terms of irrational.
Not only Takae, Oura Bay in Henoko, this Gunjung village in Jeju Island became a precious place of mine as of today.
When I actually visit there, such romanticism will be totally destroyed by its harsh reality. At least my biggest gain from tonight’s film viewing was that I clearly linked Okinawa and Juju Island.
I had to leave before the end of talk session. Rachel, Kimiko, Ms. Shiroma who invited me, and all the participants, thank you very much.
I wish as many people can watch this film.