<Doomealee, A New School is Opening (Doomealee-saeroun-hakkyoka-yulinda)> (1995)

Director : Hong Hyung-sook
Year of Production : 1995
Genre : Documentary
Format : U-MATIC/Color
Running Time : 70 minutes

Crew :
Producer : Hong Byeong-hyeon, Cho Han-ki
Assistant Director : Kim Sun-ah
Cinematography : Hong Hyo-sook
Camera Assistants : Kim Duk-chae, Kim Jeong-yeob, Cho Han-ki
Editor : Kim Sun-ah, Hong Hyo-sook
Lighting : Nam Seung-hwa, Choi Ha Dong-ha
Stills : Kim Jin-hyung
Production Planning : Seoul Visual Collective

Synopsis

With the implementation of the 1988 government policy to shut down and combine small schools around the nation, Doomeal Elementary School in Doomealee Village, Gapuyeong-gun, is designated to be closed. The residents of Doomealee Village who are mostly farmers, struggle to keep their children’s school open. Although the year-long struggle to save the school ends in disappointment, the incident makes the residents and children realize the value of small schools and gives them a new hope.

Purpose of Production

The story of Doomealee Village begins with the rays of the sun shining into an empty classroom. Through interviews and the lives of the farmers of Doomealee Village, the film explores what “school” and “education” mean to the people of rural areas. It also explores the problems that may be inherent in such slogans as “Domestic Farm Products Are the Best,” and “The Revival of the Farming Communities.”

Awards and Showings at Film Festivals

Grand Prize at the 1st Seoul International Documentary Film Festival
Invited to be shown at the 4th Yamagata International Documentary Film
Invited to be shown at the 1st Pusan International Film Festival

Director Bio : Hong Hyung-sook


Born in 1962, she directed Doomealee, A New School is Opening (1995), Statement of a Real Name (Bonmyoung-sun-un) (1998), The time of the beginning ?Second story of Doomealee (Shijakhaneun-shunkan-doomeallee-dubeonjjae-iyagi) (2000), Border City (Gyeongae Dosi) (2002)