Kim Hyang-gi's 'Hanran' to meet North American audiences for the first time

The film 'Hanran', starring Kim Hyang-gi, will meet North American audiences for the first time at the 25th New York Asian Film Festival. Directed by Ha Myung-mi, this work is set in Jeju in 1948 and follows the survival of a mother who hides in Hallasan Mountain to escape suppression and her daughter left behind in the village. This invitation is noteworthy because it goes beyond a simple screening at an overseas film festival. By presenting the memories of the Jeju April 3 Incident through a local exhibition in New York, the film tests how an independent film can bridge history and the audience.

'Hanran' Named as North American Premiere

'Hanran' has been included in the Korean film lineup for the 25th anniversary program of the New York Asian Film Festival, held from July 10 to 26. This year, the festival will take place at major screening venues in New York, including Film at Lincoln Center, SVA Theatre, IFC Center, Anthology Film Archives, and the Korean Cultural Center New York, with 'Hanran' being introduced as its North American premiere. The Korean film section also includes director Yeon Sang-ho's 'Colony', director Jung Ji-young's 'My Name is', and the 4K restored version of 'My Sassy Girl'.

Within this lineup, the position of 'Hanran' is clear. Amidst large-scale genre films and restored works, this piece narrows the focus of the Jeju April 3 Incident to the perspective of a single family. Rather than attempting to explain a massive historical event, it creates a door for the audience to approach history by following the daily lives of a mother and daughter who had to cross mountains and seas to survive. Ajin, played by Kim Hyang-gi, is a mother who takes risks to find her daughter, Haesaeng. That choice drives the emotional arc of the film.

An Invitation Accompanied by an Exhibition, Making it Even More Special

Director Ha Myung-mi and Kim Hyang-gi are expected to attend this New York schedule. During the festival period, an exhibition related to the Jeju April 3 Incident, in connection with the Jeju April 3 Peace Foundation, will also be held in New York. This serves as a mechanism for the audience to gain a deeper understanding of the film's background after the screening. The Jeju April 3 Incident was a history that was difficult to speak of even within Korea, and it is an even more unfamiliar name to overseas audiences. Therefore, the New York screening of 'Hanran' is read as more than just an actress's overseas schedule.

The title 'Hanran' refers to the orchids of Hallasan Mountain that bloom in winter. Like its meaning, the work follows the hearts of people who do not break even in harsh times. Since her child actor days, Kim Hyang-gi has grown into an actress who, rather than pushing emotions outward, calmly shows the inner tremors of a character. In this work as well, what the audience will notice first is not the volume of tears, but the breath and hesitation of a person descending to find her daughter.

The Next Checkpoint is the Local Audience's Reaction

'Hanran' has been steadily discussed among independent film audiences since its domestic release, and in Japan, it is known that the number of theaters increased to 45 after its release on April 3. At the 13th Wildflower Film Awards, it received the Cinematography Award, being recognized for its method of recording the Jeju landscape. Now, the key is how much the New York audience accepts this story as a history relevant to their own place. As the film screening and exhibition are held together, the local Q&A sessions and audience reactions will be important scenes to gauge the next destination for 'Hanran'.