In 2015, a group of international female peacemakers embarked on an ambitious endeavor. To hasten an official end to the Korean War, Women Across DMZ flew to Pyongyang in the hopes of walking across the DMZ at the infamous PMJ border crossing. With many visits on both sides of the DMZ and even more symbolic gestures, these brave women believe they can sway popular opinion toward accepting the peace process. Christine Ahn, a Korean-American activist, leads the group including such luminaries as Nobel Peace Laureates Leymah Gbowee and Mairead Maguire and noted feminist journalist and activist Gloria Steinem. In both North and South Korea, Women Across DMZ meets everyday Korean women and learns their motivations are incredibly similar: War always has the same effects on women, and peace efforts led by women often have the most success.
Through the honest eyes of Deann Borshay Liem’s camera, Crossings gives us an intimate view of the Korean War as it exists today and its effects on women specifically. Those interested both in the history of the Korean War and peace activism will find a smorgasbord of intriguing interviews, events, and information waiting for them in this well-produced documentary. I do wish there had been a bit more exposition at times. Occasionally, some of the American women display a frustrating hardheadedness and lack of self-reflection regarding how they perpetuate some of the propaganda they claim to fight.
Their presupposition that everyone in North Korea has an untold number of evil ulterior motives is a major part of why the conflict hasn’t progressed from armistice to peace in the last 70 years: There is no trust without some benefit of the doubt. Aside from Gloria Steinem and a few others being allowed to say “I don’t trust these people” over and over again in some of the most mundane circumstances, Crossings is a flawless documentary. Its fly-on-the-wall styling allows the viewer to glimpse the most honest portrayal of North Korea I’ve ever seen documented. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public and academic library shelves?
Crossings would be a perfect fit in public or academic library collections within sections dedicated to documentary films, women's studies, peace activism, and Korean history. With its focus on the experiences of women affected by the conflict and their role in peacebuilding, Crossings provides valuable insights for library patrons or university students interested in understanding the complexities of war, peace, and gender dynamics in the Korean Peninsula.
What kind of college instructor could use this title?
In academia, college instructors across various disciplines could integrate Crossings into their coursework. This documentary holds relevance for fields such as International Relations, Peace Studies, Gender Studies, Journalism, and Film Studies. Crossings offers a dynamic examination of the challenges and motivations behind peace efforts in the region, making it a valuable resource for students seeking to understand contemporary peace movements and their impact.