Synopsis

‘Home’ is an economic shackle in modern societ y. People save up most of their income and turn to mor tgages to buy homes. As they can’t af ford repayments on a principal & interest basis, they put their assets up for collateral. While those who live in rented homes feel deprived about not being able to af ford one, those who own their homes struggle to pay their mor tgage. T hey are all trapped in a vicious circle of cash poor and asset rich. It is because people are obsessed with buying their own proper t y for the good of the family. Counterattack is about people who break free from the shackles of home and revitalize their lives. People flock to Haebangchon, a district of Yongsan- gu in Seoul, and set tle into empt y houses. Ever yone is welcomed there and ever yone can own the house regardless of sex, race, age and job. T he residents cluster together and choose to live in pover t y at a slower pace. T hey sit around in a circle to discuss whether to accept anti-pacifists. T hey come to an ethical but naïve conclusion that people should not be judged by their appearance, just like saying goes, “men and melons are hard to know”. What does it mean for them to be unfet tered from the shackles of time and desire to possess? T hey share ever y thing eating, playing, creating, discussing and studying together. T hey realize their own vision of the good life in the ideal communit y. Counterattack closely follows the process of sustaining their communit y by set ting up their own economic policy and overcoming the hardship. As the stor y of these genuine pacifists unfolds, we learn that they live a more adventurous, productive and abundant life despite financial insuf ficiency. (JEONG Min-ah)

* Funded by DMZ Docs Project 2010

Director

• 

  JOO Hyun-sook
  

  In 1994, Joo Hyun-sook completed 16mm film production course at the Association of Korean Independent Film & Video. She is currently studying in the Department of Cinema Studies at Korea National University of Arts. Joo’s filmography includes The Path (2003), an omnibus documentary on migrant workers, It Goes On - The Undocumented Is Documented (2004) and Provocation of Neoliberalism (2005). As a vigorous media activist, Joo has devoted herself to media education for migrant workers. She is currently a member of festival committee for the Seoul Independent Documentary Film & Video Festival.
  
  가난뱅이의 역습 Counterattack (2012)
  멋진 그녀들 She is (2007)
  신자유주의의 도발들 Provocation of Neo-liberalism (2005)
  계속된다 - 미등록 이주노동자 기록되다
  It Goes On-The Undocumented Is Documented (2004)
  여정 The Path (2003)

Credits

• Director  JOO Hyun-sook
• Cinematographer  JOO Hyun-sook, Jeangran, Jeegaksang, Dion
• Editor  JOO Hyun-sook

Distributor/Sales

• Distributor/Sales  JOO Hyun-sook
• E-mail  schua0311@gmail.com