"Is This Really a True Story?" Winter Butterfly Screening and Q&A with Director Kim Gyoo-min

By Sohee Khim, NKHR intern and volunteer

On Saturday April 11, 2015, NKHR Rescue Fund hosted director Kim Gyoo-min for a screening of his film ‘Winter Butterfly’ and discussion of the film.

‘Winter Butterfly’ portrayed a young boy Jin-ho and his mother struggling to survive in a small village in North Korea. The two scrape together a living by collecting dead wood and selling it in the marketplace.  The film followed the mother and son as they spiraled into despair.  For some, the ending was unsettling. 

Guests were shocked to find out that the jarring movie was based on a true story. Kim explained that he had chosen this particular experience out of countless others as the subject of his film because it was one he had personally witnessed.

During the Q&A session after the screening, Kim spoke about everything from life in North Korea, his escape, repatriation from China, and adjusting to a life of freedom in South Korea. Members of the audience asked insightful questions about how to help North Koreans who are resettling in South Korea, and how best we can provide food aid to North Korea when, in the past, aid was diverted to the military and the elite.  Kim's answers were hopeful that life for North Koreans would improve in the future. 

We look forward to seeing everyone again at our next event on April 25, a film screening of The Defector, and Q&A with a North Korean resettler. The event will be at Chungshin Girls School in Jamsil.  More information available below and on Facebook. 

Director Kim Gyoo-min answering questions about his film. (With interpreter Sheena Winter.)