IN THE ASHES OF MEMORY
Dir. Rin Jung / 2022
Dir. Rin Jung / 2022
The film takes a form of video essay and documentary combined, consisting of two parts. In the first part, the filmmaker narrates an essay on how to read trauma as a “missing history” while visually revealing their own trauma and stories. Drawing from the trauma theory narrative on constant attempt to find this missing history, the filmmaker speaks of how trauma brings forth pain yet at the same time ironically becomes the reason to keep on living. The filmmaker interviews several people to share their memories and trauma that they want to process and cope with. The interviewees share various stories, from being in an abusive relationship to grieving passing of their father. With these trauma uttered, in the second part, the filmmaker - who is also a tattoo artist - prescribes tattoo designs based on the stories told while explaining why tattoos matter in the individual’s relationship with their trauma and body. Incorporating Dialectical Behavioral Therapy approach in the interviews, the filmmaker comes from the ‘Wise Mind’ to design the tattoos. Also inspired by Korean shamanistic talismans called Bujeok which is used to bridge or intervene, the filmmaker tattoos the participants with these designs, that becomes both a mark to remind them of their strength and a reclamation of their bodies. The final interviews after the tattooing presents the affect of the tattoos on thinking about trauma.
2022 Doc.Boston Documentary Film Festival Official Selection
2022 Los Angeles Producer’s Night Official Nominee
2022 The Tarkovski Grant Recipient
2022 Body Positive Film Festival Official Selection
2022 NYC Film Diary Festival Official Selection
2022 4th MEMORY, AFFECTS AND EMOTIONS International Conference Presentation
2022 MEMORY IN A DIGITAL AGE International Conference Presentation