In passing Entre Rios International Film Festival (FICER) Argentine director Cecilia KangDaughter of South Korean parents The eldest sona film that once again questions divided identity, immigrant heritage, and the fissures that cross those who grow up between “two worlds.” Born in Buenos Aires and shaped by the intersection of cultures, she found in cinema a language capable of conveying this complexity.
This sense of multiple belonging is the emotional center of his new film and his previous films: My latest failure (2017) and I let a ship take me (2023). The latter received widespread awards at the 38th Mar del Plata Festival and at the Sur Awards after it was unfair.”He was ignored“By the current Chief of Staff Manuel Adorniat the time presidential spokesman, when used it as an example of a production that – by his standards – justified cuts at INCAA (National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts).
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“The idea that ‘Argentine films don’t attract audiences’ or that The saying “the public doesn’t watch Argentine films” is a myth“, commented the director in an interview with PERFIL, from the city of Paraná. He explained: “Many Argentine films It does not reach people because it is not distributedAnd the public doesn’t even know it exists.
In the cast The eldest son They meet Chang Sung Kima Korean actor with a long career in Argentine film and television Anita B. Quinna young DJ originally from this Asian country who made his debut in a feature film. Kang sensitively raises questions universal to all expatriates, such as What does he do? You feel different where you live. The beginning of the project was a series of Interviews he conducted with his father About your experience.
The director imagines reality so as not to lose memory of the history of her community, and she does it this way because she has The existential relationship with cinema Since his childhood and adolescence. Since his adolescence in video stores and working in all kinds of artistic roles, he described it as his refuge, The place “The one who always saved her“.
At FICER I won an award DAC-Género for Best Director From the official department, while in the prestigious Locarno Festival (Switzerland) It has already won the Best Emerging Directorate award.
Interview with Cecilia Kang with PERFIL
Where were you born, where does your family live, and when did your love for cinema begin?
– I was born in Buenos Aires in 1985, but I am the daughter of Korean parents. my father He arrived in Argentina in 1983 The next year my mother and sister came. They arrived with the return of democracy in the country, basically, because In South Korea at that time there was a dictatorship Post-war, without work or possibilities. In search of a better future, they came here.
My love for cinema began as far back as I can remember. I always say that cinema saved me. In the most difficult moments of my life, the place where I felt contained was the movie theater. It was my refuge in the family situations and struggles I had to go through.
– How did you live in the time of VHS and video stores?
-I grew up with the video store. I had a ritual: from the ages of 13 to 15, every Friday night He would rent me two or three movies, then come home and order me pizza. That was a date I had with myself.
I saw it all. I loved romantic comedies, so I watched those Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. Then, without knowing much, I started renting movies from Pedro Almodóvar Because I was very attracted to the titles and covers. I saw his entire filmography and I was horrified. This was my country Emotional education and gaysomehow. I was so amazed by his characters and the women in his films.
There is another moment and another movie that really affected me. I remember a very specific scene: one day I ran away from chemistry class In high school, at Nacional in Buenos Aires, I went to the little cinema in the basement and they were showing 400 strokes (By François Truffaut). It was a crush.
– When did you start devoting yourself to cinema professionally?
– I started over 20 years ago. I did it all: makeup, VFX, art, props, assistant director… I trained by studying, but above all by working.
The last film I helped as director was When I look at herWritten by Julio Chavez. It was a beautiful experience working with Giolito, he is a great actor and director, and very generous. I was also assistant director V Francisco Santis’s Long Night And in A common crimeamong many other things, before I started my films.
-How were you born? The eldest son How is its dialogue with your previous films?
– This came when I was writing some short films. I realized they were all talking Same story. At first there was no specific theme, but then it appeared unconsciously. What motivated me was a An interview I conducted with my father in 2017. It was a personal exercise: see old photos, talk about each one. There I felt it The heart has already chosen the movieBecause that’s the way I think Movies are born: It’s not that I choose them, but the films choose me.
The eldest son It’s fiction, I wouldn’t call it semi-autobiographical because it’s not just about my family, it’s also about the Korean families who came to Argentina, as well as any other diaspora that had to emigrate from their countries. I think it’s very much in dialogue with my previous documentaries because it reflects them That dual identity: I’m Argentinian and I’m Korean, What happens when you live between two cultures?
Did the film face production difficulties in this complex context of cinema?
-a lot. With producer Juan Pablo Miller, we always say that Make it a “leap into the void”. The search for funding was long and complicated. There were scenes that were scheduled to be filmed in South Korea, but we didn’t get much of the Korean background, so I had to rewrite the movie. It was a painful experience, but it was also a learning experience.
Even more so with the current situation of national culture: we had to postpone filming several times because we didn’t have anything. We have the defunded INCAA, which Moreover, it detracts from you And it’s all very sad when one tries to bet on our cinema. So it became more of a personal matter for me, a matter of saying, “We exist, Argentine cinema exists, and that’s okay.”
– How do you evaluate the current debates about the role of the state in culture?
The role of the state is essential. The idea that “Argentine films do not attract audiences” or that “audiences do not watch Argentine films” is a myth. Fake news I would tell you it has been a long time coming, but has been largely installed by the current national government. I understand this because cinema is a very important tool for mass communication, i.e. construction and critical thinking. Therefore, a A government with stupid policies People will not want to think, criticize and present.
Many Argentine films do not reach people Because it is not distributedThe public does not even know it exists, and on top of that, they are bombarded with fake news that appears on social media. These opportunities will be provided by an active state with public policies of equitable distribution. The film industry is a difficult industry, as it drives many sectors. It is even anti-capitalist not to promote it.
“I know I am who I am today because I had development opportunities in Argentina.”
South Korea, for example, which has a strong industry that generates a lot of money economically, has very clear policies regarding national films. They have the same odds on the bulletin board Of those in Hollywood. When you see these situations, you clearly see that there is an obstacle because of them Ideological reasons. it’s a shame; Defending culture and art in any country is very important because it is a construct of meaning and identity, a way of representing ourselves to the world.
– How do you feel when you hear anti-immigration speeches in the world?
– When I have to travel to watch my films and return to the country, I do that Lots of happiness and pride in being Argentinian. I think it is a great honor to have been born here. Despite everything quilombosWe live in a country with a living and functioning democracy that we must fight to preserve. Here you can Say what you want and demand your rights. This is not common in the world.
We Argentines are very free and sometimes we don’t even realize it. We take it for granted, but it is not so. In many Asian countries, for example, demonstrations are banned. Imagine that.
As a daughter of immigrants, I know what that means because it shaped me and shaped me into who I am. I know that I am who I am thanks to the fact that I had the opportunity to develop in this country.. I do not deny that I also faced cases of racism and discrimination, of course, but I see that over time many things have changed. Younger generations live their identity in a different way. The Argentine has this ability to learn as well, We are more open to diversity. This is something I always try to show and encourage in my films and in my close circles.
M.