Arirang

The 20th century was a time of trial for Korea: in 1903, just after the first Koreans set sail for Hawaii, their homeland was invaded by Japan, and all vestiges of national identity, including language and dress, were brutally suppressed. Filmmaker Tom Coffman's two-part documentary Arirang combines archival footage and stills with insightful interviews to examine Korea's turbulent journey over the last 100 years, recounting important events in Korea's seesaw struggle for independence. In part one, “The Korean American Journey,” viewers will learn that few Americans seemed to notice or care about Korea (after Japanese troops were ejected post-WWII, better days seemed on the horizon for the country) until June 1950, when the U.S. entered a bloody three-year war against invading North Korean and Communist Chinese troops bent on conquering South Korea (the shooting ended in 1953 but the political stalemate continues). South Korea has since become an Asian economic superpower, while the Communist north languishes. The second part, “The Korean American Dream,” focuses on Koreans who, by choice or of necessity, emigrated to America to start new lives, noting that the promise of a good education and a desire for more opportunities for their children lured Koreans to the U.S., where their powerful work ethic spurred them to start family-run small businesses, including groceries, dry cleaners, and liquor stores. Unfortunately, many inner-city residents resent Koreans because they feel the money is leaving the community and moving out to the suburbs (this conflict figured in the Los Angeles riots of 1992). However, Koreans continue to survive and prosper, sometimes carrying their talents and money back to their now independent, democratic homeland. Backed by soulful music (echoing the popular Korean traditional song “Arirang”), this PBS-aired historical overview of contemporary Korea and Korean-Americans is recommended. [Note: The teaching companion DVD Arirang: The Korean American Interactive Classroom is also newly available for $39.95.] Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)