The Triumph of Everyday Life: Beyond Nations, Beyond Politics

Just as cinema, in its early days, documented the lives of ordinary people, this year’s DMZ International Documentary Film Festival focuses on capturing the essence of daily life—not through actors, but through the authentic presence of common people—with a striking and tangible simplicity. In today’s unsettled world, where political and social complexities often obscure the beauty of life’s simple moments, cinema offers a sanctuary for contemplation. These films, with their cameras turned toward seemingly empty frames, yet filled with the spirit of Korea’s breathtaking nature, intertwine narratives rooted in the lived experiences of past generations and contemporary families. This humanistic gaze paves the way for an artistic and social journey brimming with hope for reconstruction. As a jury member from Iran, I found in the films of this festival a timely and meaningful encounter. This encounter has the potential to resolve wars and hostilities, bridge divides, and allow people of all ages, regardless of their city or village, to nurture beauty within their hearts—with peace and serenity.

‏Furthermore, I observed innovative approaches to narrative techniques in this year’s films. Unlike some Korean fiction movies, these documentaries employ a slower pace of editing that, while perhaps selective by the director, can sometimes make time on screen feel excessive and monotonous. The camera captures the Koreans’ daily lives, particularly simple elements like leaves and small flowers. This approach is intriguing in relation to the straightforward stories and less dramatic narratives. It focuses on the Korean people as they are, celebrating their lifestyles without any evaluations. Dramatic music is another element that attempts to compensate for the lack of drama I mentioned. It originates from the K-movies tradition, particularly thrillers.

‏The FIPRESCI Award winner Beyond Now, Nayein is deserving of recognition at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival for its emphasis on borderlessness and demilitarization. It has a powerful narrative that tells the story of a couple, including an immigrant woman from Myanmar and a Korean man who tries to help her in his country. The film’s approach to using simple effects to advance the narrative is remarkable. It uses simple graphics to display text messages that can create short but intense suspenses with just a blinking cursor!

Unlike the sad story of the soldier whose face is only revealed at the very end, the movie’s title gestures towards the future after we know the soldier is died. The movie effectively connects two nations and cultures through the universal concept of humanity. Only a nameless, originless individual, not bound by nationality, can truly comprehend the depths of emotions. The film emphasizes that location is irrelevant; what matters is the capacity to support a loved one during times of hardship, especially during wartime. In this story, a Korean man dedicates his life to his beloved’s mission: preserving humanity amidst war. Although she can’t physically return to her country and participate in the conflict, she strives to bolster her fellow countrymen, providing them with the strength and determination to achieve their goals with her unwavering support.

The narrative of the movie comprises two primary elements of drama in cinema: the protagonist and the main character. The protagonist is the one we accompany on a journey to the destination (Choi Jinbe, the Korean Man), while the main character serves as the narrator who guides us through the story (Nyien). In this manner, the director employs both Korean and Mynmarian characters as characters in a fictional context. Also, using the black screen for the online conversations with the soldier makes a narrative line that ends with the last picture of the departed soldier.

The title, Beyond Now, Nyein leads the immigrant woman, Nyein, to a time when the pain and suffering of war will finally yield fruit. The film successfully guides audiences towards a thoughtful path towards the future, instilling a strong sense of hope for a day we all aspire to.

By Pouya Aghelizadeh
Edited by Savina Petkova
Copyright FIPRESCI