- The film I watched is Ode to my Father which is directed by Yoon Je-kyoon. The film offers a wholesome story line that makes it ideal for classroom use, however I do recommend teachers view the video in advance for a few scenes they are unsuitable for the classroom. The film is rooted on the evacuation of Hungnam during the Korean War and it follows a number of historical developments in Korean history as experienced by the main character, Yoon Deok-soo. What makes the film touching and potentially compelling for a student audience is that it offers a great balance between depicting historical events and how these personally affect people and families. As a Spanish teacher, I can potentially use this film to make connections to many historical developments during the Cold War in Latin America. For instance, during the main character’s youth, there are some scenes that depict American soldiers interacting with young boys, and the same happened in Voces Inocentes, a film about the Salvadoran Civil War. These scenes could be use as a springboard for discussion on US intervention. Additionally, the film depicts the efforts to unify families that had been separated during the Korean War. This was very reminiscent of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo, a group of activist mothers who to this day look for their disappeared children and grandchildren in Argentina. Showing this particular segment of the film can offer a great example of activism by families.
edited by nramon on 8/4/2016