Subject: Press Release: <Resilience> Documentary Film
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tammy Chu, info@resiliencefilm.com/ +82 (0)19 9743 4344
Press photos: www.resiliencefilm.com/press

RESILIENCE | 회복의 길 

A story about loss, separation, and building broken ties

Premieres October 11 at the Pusan International Film Festival

SEOUL, September 30, 2009 — A story of loss and separation, Resilience is a character-driven documentary that takes a unique look at international adoption from the perspective of a Korean birth mother and her American son.  A single story among thousands of stories untold, the film follows the remarkable journey of Myungja as she reconnects with her son after 30 years apart. Through their initial reunion on national television to subsequent meetings and departures, they attempt to build a relationship amidst family betrayal and the legacy of adoption. But with so many obstacles – language, culture, distance, and unspoken loss – can two strangers find a way to become mother and son?

Resilience premieres at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) – the largest film festival in Asia - on Sunday October 11 at 1p.m. (Megabox Haeundae 3), followed by Q&A with the filmmakers.  Tickets for general screenings are on sale now and can be purchased at the PIFF website - www.piff.org.  A second screening will be on Thursday, October 15 at 4p.m.

Each year, thousands of children are sent to the West for adoption. South Korea has sent more children than any other country, an estimated 200,000 over the past 55 years. Despite being one of the world's strongest economies, it continues to do so. With every new family created by adoption, another family gets torn apart.

Resilience tells a singular story that transcends to relay a greater, deeper story about the thousands of birth mothers, adoptees, and adoptive families in Korea, the U.S. and elsewhere.

Film director, Tammy Chu, a Korean American adoptee, was inspired to make this film after reuniting with her own birth family as well as shed light on the untold stories of international adoption.  Chu’s perspective as both a reunited adoptee and filmmaker is unique—as an “insider” who can relate directly to the experiences of both the adoptee and birth mother, and captures on film the nuances of these experiences.   

Directed/Produced by Tammy Chu, Produced/Edited by Anthony Gilmore and Executive Produced by Do-hyun Kim.  Resilience is a Korea/US co-production by Nameless Films and KoRoot. Funding for Resilience is provided by the Pusan International Film Festival, Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund and individual donors.  Fiscally sponsored by Women Make Movies.

Visit the Resilience website - www.resiliencefilm.com- for more information about the film, the crew, and watch the trailer.