Grandmother Kang Il-chul passes away and the 5 remaining survivors, 'Spirits' Homecoming'

The film 'Spirits' Homecoming,' which drew 3.58 million viewers by depicting the pain of the Japanese military 'comfort women' victims, returns to the screen in an extended version after 10 years. The distributor, Connect Pictures, announced that the extended version, 'Spirits' Homecoming: Unnie, Let's Go Home Now,' will be released on August 26. The running time has increased from the original 127 minutes to 132 minutes. By adding new stories of women who had to endure the same suffering in various Asian countries, it captures the trans-border solidarity of girls who called out each other's names and never let go of each other's hands.

Disappearing witnesses and Jo Jung-rae's determination

There is a painful reality behind why director Jo Jung-rae has picked up the megaphone again after 10 years. The number of 'comfort women' survivors, which stood at 47 when the film was released in 2016, has now dwindled to 5. In particular, the late Grandmother Kang Il-chul, who served as the actual motif for the film, passed away this March. The voices that testify to history are gradually fading.

Director Jo decided on this re-release after hearing the words, "Now you take responsibility and resolve this!" from Grandmother Lee Yong-soo, whom he met at a recent screening in Daegu. Through a written statement, Director Jo revealed, "In March of this year, Grandmother Kang Il-chul, the actual protagonist of the film, passed away."

The poster depicts 14-year-old Jeong-min and 15-year-old Young-hee hugging each other with bright smiles. Carrying on the spirit of the original work, which was produced through the support of 75,270 citizens, it aims to serve as a cultural record to protect the dignity and honor of the victims.

An official apology from the Japanese government is the true solution

Through this extended version, director Jo Jung-rae delivers a message to the Japanese government. In his writing, he emphasized that the true solution desired by numerous victims is by no means monetary compensation. He argues that the only way is for the Japanese government to acknowledge its past wrongs, offer an official apology, and correctly pass that history down to future generations.

Director Jo stated, "For many victims, a true solution is for the Japanese government to acknowledge its responsibility, officially apologize, and correctly pass that history down to future generations." He appealed that this film might serve as a small cultural record to make people remember the fading history and to remember the dignity and honor of the Japanese military 'comfort women' victims.

From 'The Burning Maidens' to the extended version

The film 'Spirits' Homecoming' depicts the process of Young-ok (played by Son Sook), who was abducted as a 'comfort woman' during the Japanese colonial period, healing her past wounds through a homecoming ritual. Director Jo Jung-rae wrote and directed the film, inspired by 'The Burning Maidens,' a drawing made by the late 'comfort woman' victim Grandmother Kang Il-chul during art psychotherapy. Produced with the support of 75,270 citizens upon its release in 2016, this work drew approximately 3.58 million viewers.

The newly presented 'Spirits' Homecoming: Unnie, Let's Go Home Now' adds the stories of women from various Asian countries who had to endure the same pain to the existing version. It shows the trans-border solidarity where the girls called out each other's names and never let go of each other's hands.