South Korea, 2024 | 103 min Director: Sook-hee MOON 12+ Competition Feature
"A Ray of Sunlight" was created based on the struggles of the haenyeo during the Tap-dong Landfill incident in 1988. It portrays the story of a family that gradually loses its identity through years of suffering caused by corporate greed. While the violence of capital and bureaucracy in a small seaside village repeats across generations, ordinary citizens find themselves powerless against the system. The father's only legacy - a dry cleaner's shop - holds decades of history. The protagonist, desperate for money to regain custody of her daughter, becomes entangled in redevelopment schemes while rediscovering her family's past. Through her estranged stepmother, she experiences true familial love and realizes some legacies are worth protecting beyond material value.
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Sook-hee MOON (South Korea) A Jeju-based filmmaker capturing the island's essence through all five senses. Her work documents the stories of Jeju residents living with unhealed wounds from historical events. Rather than heavy drama, she creates what she calls "Comedy from afar" - films that address painful truths through accessible, warm storytelling. As her character Ok-hee says: "Where are there clothes that don't wrinkle? Life is about smoothing out the creases and staying tough like galot fabric." Moon aims to portray Jeju's resilient spirit while offering comfort to audiences.
