Director And Producer Christopher H.K. Lee’s Comfort Women Documentary ‘The Last Tear’ Is Invited To 21 Film Festivals And Earns 4 Award Nominations
Christopher H.K. Lee created a documentary titled "The Last Tear" from his own pocket, putting a spotlight on South Korean comfort women who were forced into sexual slavery during the World War II Japanese occupation, Korea Times noted on Tuesday
The documentary touches a very controversial topic, especially amid the meeting between South Korean President Park Geun Hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Both leaders will be making progress on the issue that has long plagued the diplomatic relations of the two countries.
According to BBC News on Monday, Japan has offered an apology to South Korea in the past for the "pain and suffering" of the comfort women, but South Korea demands a stronger apology as well as compensation for the victims.
"[Park] stressed that the issue must be quickly settled in a way that our people can accept," said an adviser.
Lee's documentary focuses on the stories of the now elderly women in the most compassionate way without taking sides or demanding an apology from Japan.
"Everyone is talking about the comfort women issue in the news especially since we are close to the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day," said Lee. "I didn't want to get caught up in the controversy. I wanted to get to know the halmonis (grandmothers) and their stories while also giving them a chance to have closure on the issue."
Less than three months since "The Last Tear" has been released, Lee's film has already been invited to more than 20 festivals worldwide, including the Russian International Film Festival, Los Angeles CineFest and the Chinese American Film Festival.
"The Last Tear" has been recently awarded Best Feature for the World Humanitarian Awards, along with several award nominations from various film festivals.
Christopher H.K. Lee is a talented director, producer, writer, editor and cinematographer, with impressive documentary works, including "I Won't Give Up On You" in 2009, "Fading Away" in 2013 and "I Am Grace" in 2014.