To commemorate the May 18th Democratization Movement, we present a special screening of the 1996 feature film, A PETAL  (Dir. Jang Sun-woo) and the 2020 non-fiction audio-visual project, ROUND AND AROUND  (Dir. Jang Min-seung), produced by the Korean Film Archive. By gazing directly at the tragedy of state violence that occurred in Gwangju in May 1980, we seek to reflect on the contemporary meaning of history through the works of two different generations who sublimated the scars of the era into artistic language.

A PETAL is a monumental work of early Korean cinema that began the serious cinematic discourse on the Gwangju Uprising. The film holds exceptional historical value as numerous Gwangju citizens personally participated as extras and supporting cast members to recreate the scenes of the uprising, embodying a collective effort to record historical truth through community solidarity. Through its provocative aesthetics and symbolic direction, the film captures the psychological trauma of a survivor, leaving a profound mark on the history of Korean cinema.
ROUND AND AROUND is an audio-visual project commissioned by the Korean Film Archive to mark the 40th anniversary of the May 18th Movement. Utilizing extensive archival footage, photographs, and meticulously designed soundscapes, it sensually reconstructs the facets of history that traditional narrative cinema could not fully reach. Notably, this work was directed by Jang Min-seung, the son of director Jang Sun-woo. By succeeding the harrowing testimonies of the previous generation through the contemplative and profound aesthetics of the next, the film demonstrates an expansion of vision across generations.

History is not a fixed past, but a force that constantly moves forward through dialogue with the present. Following the screenings, a Guest Visit with directors Jang Sun-woo and Jang Min-seung will be held to share their artistic reflections across two different eras. We hope this special screening, intersecting the gazes of two directors separated by thirty years, will serve as a valuable opportunity to identify the artistic momentum needed to resolve lingering historical challenges, going beyond an act of mourning for a sorrowful era.