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The Apology

2016 1 h 44 min
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The Apology follows the personal journeys of three former “comfort women” who were among the 200,000 girls and young women kidnapped and forced into military sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Some 70 years after their imprisonment in so-called “comfort stations”, the three “grandmothers—Grandma Gil in South Korea, Grandma Cao in China, and Grandma Adela in the Philippines—face their twilight years in fading health. After decades of living in silence and shame about their past, they know that time is running out to give a first-hand account of the truth and ensure that this horrific …

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The Apology

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The Apology follows the personal journeys of three former “comfort women” who were among the 200,000 girls and young women kidnapped and forced into military sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Some 70 years after their imprisonment in so-called “comfort stations”, the three “grandmothers—Grandma Gil in South Korea, Grandma Cao in China, and Grandma Adela in the Philippines—face their twilight years in fading health. After decades of living in silence and shame about their past, they know that time is running out to give a first-hand account of the truth and ensure that this horrific chapter of history is not forgotten. Whether they are seeking a formal apology from the Japanese government or summoning the courage to finally share their secret with loved ones, their resolve moves them forward as they seize this last chance to set future generations on a course for reconciliation, healing, and justice.
This work deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
  • writer
    Tiffany Hsiung
  • director
    Tiffany Hsiung
  • producer
    Anita Lee
  • executive producer
    Anita Lee
  • associate producer
    Deann Borshay Liem
    Chris Kang
  • director of photography
    Tiffany Hsiung
  • editor
    Mary Stephen
  • music
    Lesley Barber
  • sound design
    Daniel Pellerin
  • featuring
    Gil Won-Ok
    Adela Reyes Barroquillo
    Cao Hei Mao
  • additional participant
    Zhang Shuang Bing
    Meehyang Yoon
  • additional editing
    Roslyn Kalloo
  • assistant picture editor
    Tiffany Beaudin
    Xi Feng
  • additional cinematography
    Jason Lee
    Chris Kang
    Mark Valino
    Kwoi Gin
    Iris Ng
    Brandon Relucio
    Jong Youl Lee
    San Woo
  • story editor
    Anita Lee
    Deann Borshay Liem
  • production supervisor
    Mark Wilson
  • studio administrator
    Josiah Rothenberg
    Stefanie Brantner
  • production manager
    Chris Kang
  • production coordinator
    Stefanie Brantner
    Jennifer Bertling
    Rayisa Kondracki
    Jong Suk Lee
  • technical coordinator
    Marcus Matyas
  • post-production coordinator
    Jacqueline Tam
  • technical assistant
    Andrew Martin-Smith
    Zoya Rezaie
  • researcher
    Angela Lytle
    Jenny Chan
    Ruina Bao
  • production assistant
    Dana Nyberg
    Marisa Mito
    Nicholas Liem
    Emily Yuan Wang
    Ruina Bao
    Matias Wang
    Martine Marras
    Jennifer Hsiung
    Jing Niu
    Sunny Yao
    Jude Lee
    Jennifer Sazon
  • supervising coordinator
    Patrick Carr
  • sound recording
    Ma Jie
    Allie Haynes
  • transportation
    Li Jie Xie
  • fixer
    Jin Xian Kong
    Juann Stella Choe
  • translator
    Carrie Zhang
    Yujing Tian
  • steadicam
    Lee Sang Yun
  • sound recordist
    Uni Park
    Jong Suk Lee
    Jason Milligan
  • sample reel editor
    Vivien Hillgrove
  • supplement material editor
    Gloria Tong
  • visual research
    Elizabeth Klinck
  • translation
    Helen Lee
    Juann Stella Choe
    Jungyeon Heo
    Janet Son
    Heidi Kim
    Michelle Lee
    Yeji Park
    Claire Yoon Jung
    Yoon Ko
    Young Joo Lee
    Iyeon Kim
    Judy Cho
    Wendy Tan
    Yujing Tian
    Raymond Siu
    Shahrzad Nakhai
    Marilyn Hidalgo
    Haniely Pabelo
    Ivy Yukiko Ishihara Oldford
    Yusuke Tanaka
    Benton Nilson
  • on-line
    Yannick Carrier
  • mix
    Jean Paul Vialard
  • music editor
    Jakob Thiesen
  • sound editing supervision
    Daniel Pellerin
  • original sound design
    James Mark Stewart
  • dialogue - sync sound editor
    Rob Hutchins
  • effects editor
    Geoff Raffan
  • foley artist
    John Sievert
  • foley recording
    Ron Mellegers
  • foley assistant
    Jason Charbonneau
  • transcription
    Christopher Warren
  • title design
    Ryan Patterson
  • lawyer
    Christian Pitchen
  • marketing manager
    Melissa Wheeler
  • publicist
    Jennifer Mair

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Education

Ages 16 to 18
School subjects

Discuss how the Grandmothers’ testimonies contribute to making countries accountable for war crimes. Provide examples of survivors’ resilience. The Japanese government has, to an extent, apologized for wartime atrocities against Korean women victims but not to women of other countries—account for the resistance towards a full apology to all victims. In Resolution 1994/45, the UNCHR appointed a Special Rapporteur on the causes and consequences of violence against women—how effective is the UN in addressing gender-based, wartime violence?

The Apology
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