Feature Films, Documentaries and Videos
The Murmuring (1995) Directed by Byun Young-Joo
This South Korean documentary tells the story of the efforts of several elderly women to persuade the Japanese and Korean governments to issue them a formal, public apology for forcing them to become prostitutes for Japanese soldiers during WW II. Most were in their teens when they were either abducted or deceived into entering Japanese military brothels. Watch an excerpt (Korean with French subtitles)
Habitual Sadness: Korean Comfort Women Today (1999) Directed by Byun Young-Joo
This dcumentary focuses on the day to day lives of 8 former cmfort women living at the House of Sharing outside Seoul. It shows the postive impact that the international redress movement had on the women, helping to restore a sense of self-respect. Watch a trailer.
Within Every Woman (2012) Directed by Tiffany Hsiung
http://www.mufilms.org/films/within-every-woman-directed-by-tiffany-hsiu...
Within Every Woman is a documentary film depicting war crimes committed against women by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. It documents the largest institutionalized rape system in world history, the "comfort women" system. The film also explores the complex healing processes of the women who have had to live their lives without acknowledgement of or compensation for the crimes committed against them.
"Comfort Women Wanted" (2013) by Chang-Jin Lee
Chang-Jin Lee's multi-media artwork brings to light the memory of the estimated 200,000 young women systematically exploited as sex slaves in Asia during World War II. Lee aims to increase awareness of sexual violence against women during wartime through interviews with Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indonesian, Filipino, and Dutch "comfort women" survivors, as well as a former Japanese soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=limEiSjBCGw
"Comfort Women: One Last Cry" (2013)
This documentary highlights the issue of "Comfort Women" as grave violation of human rights that affected and continues to affect women all across Asia and Europe.
The film begins in South Korea and moves on to meet victims in Wuhan, China, Shanghai, the Philippines and Australia. It was aired on March 1st, 2013 on Arirang TV, Korea's only global network.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Xh-SkTjeE
Below are links to a few of the many videos available on the topic of the "comfort women."
- Jan Ruff O'Herne interview on "Talking Heads" (2009)
Jan Ruff O'Herne, a Dutch woman who served as a "comfort women," talks about her experiences in this interview.
- Asian American Life (2015)
Report by Minnie Roh on CUNY program to educate students about the history of the "comfort women."
- Yonhap Television News
This short piece (in Korean) contains rare moving images of "comfort women" and comfort stations.