In Jeonju, a city imbued with the passionate revolutionary spirit of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, a documentary recording a new era of solidarity is creating a huge buzz even before its release. We’re talking about director Kim Hyun-ji’s digital archive film, ‘Namtaeryeong’!
Set to hit theaters on the 20th, ‘Namtaeryeong’ is a work that captures the special experience of people with different identities acknowledging and accepting their differences. Through a 28-hour record that crossed the longest night to wake the dawn, it promises to deliver both heavy emotion and cheerful energy to the audience.
Produced by MBC Gyeongnam and distributed by Cinema Dal Co., Ltd., ‘Namtaeryeong’ breaks away from traditional documentary formats to reconstruct the history of the square through the eyes of the digital native generation.
The film doesn’t just list past events; it warmly captures the new sense of solidarity created by “Twitterians” from the fringes. It vividly portrays the scene of that day, as kind as it was lonely and as cheerful as it was desperate, highlighting how democracy comes back to life in our daily routines.
Successful Press Conference at the Jeonju International Film Festival Closing Ceremony… The Aesthetics of Solidarity in the Main Poster
The recent press conference at the closing ceremony of the 27th Jeonju International Film Festival was filled with intense interest in ‘Namtaeryeong.’ Director Kim Hyun-ji and the main cast attended to share their thoughts and behind-the-scenes stories, ramping up expectations for film fans. The main poster, revealed for the first time at the conference, caught everyone’s eye by sensually highlighting scenes of solidarity from the long night at Namtaeryeong.
At the top of the poster is the spire where Branch Manager Kim Hyung-soo stood, clearly showing the symbolic moment of becoming comrades in an isolated space. Additionally, citizens guarding the police barriers, the massive tractor of the Jeon Bong-jun struggle group, and citizens holding light sticks to brighten the darkness are layered, teasing the film’s multi-dimensional narrative.
During the press conference, director Kim Hyun-ji shared her vision: “The event of the insurrection brought deep despair and helplessness to many content creators, including myself.” She added, “In those bleak times, I gained great strength from the humor and comfort flowing through personal platforms in online spaces, and I started this film because I wanted to convey that message to more people.”
Breaking the Walls of Gender and Class… Diverse Voices of Citizens United as ‘Comrades’
‘Namtaeryeong’ is drawing attention before its release because it captures the honest voices of citizens who call each other ‘comrades,’ transcending social barriers of gender, generation, and class. The film features individuals from different walks of life, showing how they connect as one in the space of the square. From Jeon Ju-hwan, Secretary General of the Busan-Gyeongnam Federation of the Korean Peasants League, who led the Jeon Bong-jun struggle group’s tractor, to the story of Hyang-yeon (Kim Hu-ju), a young farmer who transformed into ‘Human Namtaeryeong,’ the film emphasizes solidarity for our entire society beyond the right to survival in agriculture.
The film also highlights figures who bridge digital spaces and offline sites, such as YouTuber Han Ji-in, who runs a protest vlog, an introverted flag bearer who first met fellow citizens at a rock festival, and the operator of the citizen’s news account ‘Estelle News.’ In particular, the appearance of Hwang Seung-yu, who refers to himself as a ‘queer feminist worker’ and ‘Organic Ajusshi,’ clearly reveals the value of diversity the film aims for. Cast member Jeon Ju-hwan emphasized, “True progress only happens when the voices of farmers and various voices of society come together,” adding, “I want to convey how much strength that passionate experience at Namtaeryeong gives us living today.”
Teaser Trailer and Press Stills Released… Online Buzz Sparks Global Interest
The teaser trailer and press stills released ahead of the official opening are triggering an explosive response online. Especially among users of certain personal platforms, real-time tweets like “My heart swells just looking at the poster” and “I’m just waiting for the release date to see ‘Namtaeryeong'” are heating up online timelines. This fever has spread beyond Korea to neighboring countries like Japan, where there are calls for its release, proving the universal empathy of digital archive films.
The released trailer perfectly captures the urgent atmosphere of that day. The process of a single retweet spreading in real-time to create a massive wave, and the desperate free speeches of citizens asking, “Do you expect us to live our daily lives after you’ve smashed our daily lives to pieces?” pierce the hearts of the audience.
Using a reality archive format, the visual beauty that vividly records the journey from the asphalt ground to the high-altitude protest site provides an immersive experience, making the audience feel as if they are there. The line in the film, “Because we’ve tried it, now we know how to do it,” sends a hopeful message about how those who experienced the unforgettable power of solidarity will live in the time after the square.
A record of 28 hours that woke the dawn, led by digital natives, the film ‘Namtaeryeong’ officially meets audiences in theaters on the 20th. The cheerful and touching journey of citizens who gathered scattered retweets to create one giant wave is expected to leave an unforgettable resonance in theaters this spring.
