Synopsis
Sora is the disable with second-tier of hearing loss and she joined a performance team in Haja production school. With a question of “How has she conducted the performance with her disability for the last 3 years?”, we began recording her life with her friends at school. One day, the hearing aid device in her ears failed and Sora suddenly can’t hear anything at all.
Director
-
Kim Min-seoChange or Wait (2016)This impressive scene of silence in the opening of the film helps the audience experience the conditions of Sore who is hearing impaired. She attends Haja Production School, an alternative education institute for school dropouts, and plays in a musical performance team. The documentary film shows how she communicates with her friends and how much she enjoys her school life.
Being hearing impaired, she has a cochlear implant in one ear and wears a hearing aid in the other. In the film, she listens carefully to the sound of musical instruments, asks her friend a question, and practices her instrument just like any other normal student. It is a common misperception that a person with impaired hearing is not able to enjoy music. Instead, Sore is skilled enough to teach her friends without disabilities how to play her musical instrument. Her friends at school have never had any difficulty in communicating with her and even hardly felt that she is different while she is playing her instrument. However, it is not the case for Sore. If her hearing aid does not work well or if she cannot see the mouth of the person speaking, Sore would have a trouble communicating clearly. The following scene illustrates in her own narration how Sore, a hearing-impaired person, hears and communicates with others, which makes her look a little bit lonely. Actually, it may feel lonely if no one understands what you hear or if you don't understand what others hear.
It may not be natural to insist that anyone with physical challenges be treated equally with their non-disabled counterparts. It is important for able-bodied people to reject social discrimination or prejudice against those with disabilities. But it is also important to try to understand the circumstances of the physically challenged in their shoes. The directors of this film entered the world of Sore by understanding the different way of hearing. Now they narrates the importance of such an approach in this film. [Kyung Hee-ryeung] -
Kim Nam-juFriends (2017)”소라의 장애를 인정하고 그에 맞춘다는 것이 자칫 상처가, 차별이 돼버리지 않을까? 나는 소라와 똑 같은 사람이니까, 소라의 장애에 대해 물어보지도 언급하지도 말아야겠다.”
과연 소라와 나는 같이, 잘, 살아가고 있던 것이었을까?
영화의 시작은 소라와 친구들의 잘 맞춰가며 함께 사는 모습을 담는 것이었다. 같이 잘 살고 있다고 생각했으니.
하지만 공연 중 소라의 보청기가 일으킨 오작동. 그 “차이”가 드러나는 순간 어떻게 해야 할 지 당황하며, 별로 중요하게 생각지 않는 모습이 카메라에 담긴다. 소라 자신조차 혼자만의 일이라 생각하며 넘기려 한다. 언젠가는 또 마주치게 될 서로의 차이. 이것을 무시하면 같이 사는 방법을 끝까지 모르는 사람들로 남을 것이다.
장애인은 그들의 삶이, 문화가 있다. 비장애인도 그들의 삶과 문화가 있다. 어떠한 모습으로 규정된 정상적인 사람은 없다.
혹 차별이 될까 두려워 “나와 소라는 똑 같은 사람이야, 똑같이 사고하고 경험할 거야.”
생각하며 그에 따라 행동한다면, 그것을 “같이” 살고 있다고 할 수 있을까?
나와 저 사람이 어떻게 다른지, 어떤 일상을 살아왔는지 궁금해하고 마주하고 인정하는 것.
그 후 어떤 걸 맞춰갈 수 있을지 생각하는 것.
그것이 같이 사는 삶의 첫 걸음이라는 걸 우린 영화를 찍으며 배웠다. -
Lee Sung-jaeFriends (2017)”소라의 장애를 인정하고 그에 맞춘다는 것이 자칫 상처가, 차별이 돼버리지 않을까? 나는 소라와 똑 같은 사람이니까, 소라의 장애에 대해 물어보지도 언급하지도 말아야겠다.”
과연 소라와 나는 같이, 잘, 살아가고 있던 것이었을까?
영화의 시작은 소라와 친구들의 잘 맞춰가며 함께 사는 모습을 담는 것이었다. 같이 잘 살고 있다고 생각했으니.
하지만 공연 중 소라의 보청기가 일으킨 오작동. 그 “차이”가 드러나는 순간 어떻게 해야 할 지 당황하며, 별로 중요하게 생각지 않는 모습이 카메라에 담긴다. 소라 자신조차 혼자만의 일이라 생각하며 넘기려 한다. 언젠가는 또 마주치게 될 서로의 차이. 이것을 무시하면 같이 사는 방법을 끝까지 모르는 사람들로 남을 것이다.
장애인은 그들의 삶이, 문화가 있다. 비장애인도 그들의 삶과 문화가 있다. 어떠한 모습으로 규정된 정상적인 사람은 없다.
혹 차별이 될까 두려워 “나와 소라는 똑 같은 사람이야, 똑같이 사고하고 경험할 거야.”
생각하며 그에 따라 행동한다면, 그것을 “같이” 살고 있다고 할 수 있을까?
나와 저 사람이 어떻게 다른지, 어떤 일상을 살아왔는지 궁금해하고 마주하고 인정하는 것.
그 후 어떤 걸 맞춰갈 수 있을지 생각하는 것.
그것이 같이 사는 삶의 첫 걸음이라는 걸 우린 영화를 찍으며 배웠다.
Review
This impressive scene of silence in the opening of the film helps the audience experience the conditions of Sore who is hearing impaired. She attends Haja Production School, an alternative education institute for school dropouts, and plays in a musical performance team. The documentary film shows how she communicates with her friends and how much she enjoys her school life.
Being hearing impaired, she has a cochlear implant in one ear and wears a hearing aid in the other. In the film, she listens carefully to the sound of musical instruments, asks her friend a question, and practices her instrument just like any other normal student. It is a common misperception that a person with impaired hearing is not able to enjoy music. Instead, Sore is skilled enough to teach her friends without disabilities how to play her musical instrument. Her friends at school have never had any difficulty in communicating with her and even hardly felt that she is different while she is playing her instrument. However, it is not the case for Sore. If her hearing aid does not work well or if she cannot see the mouth of the person speaking, Sore would have a trouble communicating clearly. The following scene illustrates in her own narration how Sore, a hearing-impaired person, hears and communicates with others, which makes her look a little bit lonely. Actually, it may feel lonely if no one understands what you hear or if you don't understand what others hear.
It may not be natural to insist that anyone with physical challenges be treated equally with their non-disabled counterparts. It is important for able-bodied people to reject social discrimination or prejudice against those with disabilities. But it is also important to try to understand the circumstances of the physically challenged in their shoes. The directors of this film entered the world of Sore by understanding the different way of hearing. Now they narrates the importance of such an approach in this film. [Kyung Hee-ryeung]
Credits
- Director Kim Min-seo, Kim Nam-ju, Lee Sung-jea
- Cinematographer, Editor Kim Min-seo, Kim Nam-ju
Distribution & World Sales
- Distribution & World Sales Kim Min-seo, Kim Nam-ju
- E-mail hisanahosu@gmail.com