For Chinese version of the article, please read: 《你們的四月》──傷痛的凝視與力量
In April 2014, the South Korean ferry Sewol crashed and drowned more than 300 people, who were mainly high school teachers and students. The school trip, filled with fond memories, was brutally turned into a one-way trip to the lost.
Not only did people of South Korea grieve for the lost, people around the world also witnessed and affected the tragedy. Many continue to suffer from unspeakable agony, including survivors, families and friends of the victims, and even citizens who watched the shipwreck on news.
When April of the lost is buried in the waves forever, how do the alive remember their April? This is the theme of the documentary “Yellow Ribbon”, also known as “당신의 사월”, literally meaning “Your April” in English.
Unlike most Sewol disaster-related films which focus on families of the victims, protagonists of “Yellow Ribbon” are ordinary people who are traumatised by the extensive media coverage of the shipwreck. These include college student, high school teacher, fisherman, coffee shop owner and advocator of human rights education.
Though they come from very different background, they share similar feelings of torment and rage in inarticulate yet sincere words. Student and teacher with vivid memories of school trips can effortlessly imagine themselves being on Sewol. The body of a victim was accidentally savaged by the fisherman who went on expedition. Coffee shop owner witnessed families of the victims marched to Cheongwadae (Blue House) at midnight in the notoriously cold winter, seeking truth and justice. Human rights advocator cannot help questioning the brutality of President Park Geun-hye and her government in delaying the rescue for seven hours.
At first, one only wished to escape from the overwhelming news coverage and the sense of helplessness. Same is true for people featured in “Yellow Ribbon”. They felt breathless by the indescribable distress which restrained them from concentrating at work and school. Watching pro-government parties taunting families of the victims and justifying the obviously irresponsible government, in distress, they could not defend both the victims and themselves. Rage persisted against government for concealing the truth, obstructing rescue, and even disgracing and imprisoning civilian divers. “Why” and “I don’t understand” got them entangled in thoughts.
They are all ordinary people, without articulate speaking skills, sometimes they even stammer. But their speech are very sincere and hence touching, as the words remind viewers of similar living or emotional experiences. The term ‘an imagined community of pain’ has to come to mind. Pain, is really a shared human experience, which transcends time and space.
Though in great pain, they begin to look for things they can do. The human rights advocator has launched the Yellow Ribbon campaign to connect and comfort the families of victims, insisting to pursue the truth of Sewol disaster; the coffee shop owner has offered support to protests against the Park Geun-hye government by giving hot food and drinks; the school teacher has organised an annual memorial event to pass on the legacy.
From powerless bystanders, they have transformed themselves into protagonist who fight against injustice. Grief can break one’s heart. However, grief also contains great strength, to join in solidarity and bring about change.
Years have passed since the shipwreck. The Sewol search has officially ended long ago, bills were passed to prevent similar tragedies, special investigation committee was established to investigate the incident thoroughly, and Park Geun-hye faced impeachment and stepped down. As the tragedy seems to be resolved to certain extent, general public is moving on from Sewol. Even in “Yellow Ribbon”, when the school teacher is holding a remembrance event, some students asked, ‘Isn’t the Sewol incident over? Why do we need memorial events?’
Still, to survivors, to families of the lost, or to those who care about truth and justice, Sewol is a scar for life. Truth of the shipwreck has yet been revealed: Why the captain suddenly turned the ship around? Why the coast guards rejected and obstructed civilian divers rescue? Why Park Geun-hye refused to explain her disappearance for seven hours and absence from official duties? With so many unsolved puzzles, it shows that the country is unwilling to take responsibility for the murders, but tries its best to downplay the Sewol crash.
Like what the survivors spoke at the third anniversary of Sewol sinking, only by investigating the truth, remembering faces of the victims, and mustering up the courage to live well; can they hold their heads up and say to their friends: we have found and punished the murderers who took you away from us.
Nevertheless, there is hope, even in pain. When the school teacher invited her students to write down reflections and questions after watching an interview clip of parents of the victims, some students were eager to share their feedback with the parents. More and more teachers are willing to join forces to organize the annual commemorative event. Students also take the lead to participate in the commemorative event, preparing the activity content and discussion with family members of the lost on their own. One of the students even recalls that, although he has read the testimonies of the families many times, it makes him cry every single time.
Feeling the pain, gazing into the pain, we become companions and no longer feel isolated. Being connected, we find the power to endure and transform pain, heal each other through activism, and therefore, living in truth.
As a Hongkonger, the yellow ribbon carries an additional meaning, as it symbolises the Umbrella Movement fighting for democracy and freedom against the authoritarian regime. We also share the painful and even traumatic experiences in crying for truth and justice. Although it is exhausting to carry on, although we may not be able to let justice be done in the near future, we flourish in adversity and find meaning in life, and we are not walking alone.
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