The LGBTQ conversation is never a dull topic and something that many people around the world vehemently work towards normalizing. “Queer My Friends”, the documentary by Seo Ahhyun, has done an outstanding job portraying the realities of daily life in South Korea for someone who has openly come out as gay. The main character in this documentary is the filmmaker’s lifelong friend, Song Kang-Won. 

I have personally really loved the tone of the documentary, the way the action flowed over various time periods in Kang-Won’s life, the narration used but also the lessons learned. 

Watching documentaries that touch upon sensitive or controversial topics is always delicate to handle but, in this case, I think there was an important balance achieved in how this story was told. I did not finish watching the documentary feeling angry or shocked, nor happy or sad. I felt like I had been exposed to someone’s reality and life and felt privileged to have been a part of his journey. 

I think the audience will learn many new things about a different culture and its viewpoints on LGBTQ, especially if the viewer has been born and raised in a society where these matters are not an issue, at least, not at the society and government level.

Seo Ahhyun has done a fantastic job detailing the progression of the story, not shying away from bringing to light mental health related issues that many people struggle with, regardless of sexual orientation. Without providing too much information outside of legal constraints, the film showcases aspects of the military in both South Korea and the United States of America. To some viewers, the way the Korean military operates may come as a surprise, as well as some of the laws regarding males and their obligation towards military duty. I think it’s important to learn about this, even if one does not live in South Korea.

This documentary, for those who will give their time to watch it, will both add to their existing knowledge, as well as open their minds to the suffering of a person for something they did not choose, and the unfairness of life. However, it will also show the resilience of humans in the face of complicated situations, along with the constant fight to survive in this world and find their own corner of happiness. 

I highly recommend this documentary and I applaud the Korean Cultural Center in Canada for advertising this film to the public. 

 

Thank you for reading. 

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#koreanculturalcentercanada #queermyfriends #한국영화 #documentary #lgbtq

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