Watari-Gawa: The River of Reconciliation (1996)
Directed by Duk-Chui Kim / Yasduyuki Moli
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Synopsis by Sandra Brennan
This Japanese documentary is targeted towards younger audiences and centers on a group of high school students who begin looking into the Japanese exploitation of Koreans from 1910 through the end of WW II. In those times, Koreans were treated as slaves and forced to live in inhuman conditions. Women were sold as prostitutes and both men and women were subject to severe beatings. Even today there is the prevailing attitudes that Koreans in Japan are second-class citizens. Despite the film's good intentions, most its time is centered upon the upbeat students themselves as they continue their investigation. Their studies culminate with a trip to Seoul.
Characteristics
Keywords
abuse, exploitation, prostitute/prostitution, slavery, torture