Film of Japan's sex slavery victims, 'Herstory 2017,' to be sold to 8 countries
The poster for the film “Herstory 2017.”
By Dong Sun-hwa
“Herstory 2017,” a film that deals with the Shimonoseki Court ruling ― the partial but the very first victory in the lawsuit against the Japanese government by Korean sex slavery victims during World War II ― has been sold to Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and five other countries.
Despite being overturned by Japan's Supreme Court and the Hiroshima High Court, the ruling still deserves the spotlight, being the first court order for the Japanese government to provide compensation of 3 million won ($2,680) for three out of the 10 women who took the action.
In the film, Korean actress Kim Hee-ae played Moon Jeong-suk, the head of a travel agency in Busan who operates a hotline for sexual slavery victims.
Moon decides to help those who have been suffering from the atrocities committed by Japan by starting a court battle with the Japanese government for an official apology and compensation.
The film shows how the victims gradually raised their voices while being involved in the fight that lasted six years from 1992 in Shimonoseki, Japan.
Korean actresses including Kim Hae-sook, Moon Sook and Lee Yong-nyeo star in the film, which premiered in Korea Wednesday. Overseas screenings are slated for next month.