The Apology

20161 h 44 min 38 secFilm: Documentary

PG

Direction: Tiffany Hsiung

Production: Anita Lee

Script: Tiffany HsiungAnita LeeDeann Borshay Liem

Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in association with Alpha Education, Schools Without Borders and Mu Films.

The Apology follows the personal journeys of three former “comfort women” who were among the 200,000 girls and young women kidnapped and forced into military sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Some 70 years after their imprisonment in so-called “comfort stations", the three “grandmothers”– Grandma Gil in South Korea, Grandma Cao in China, and Grandma Adela in the Philippines – face their twilight years in fading health. After decades of living in silence and shame about their past, they know that time is running out to give a first-hand account of the truth and ensure that this horrific chapter of history is not forgotten. Whether they are seeking a formal apology from the Japanese government or summoning the courage to finally share their secret with loved ones, their resolve moves them forward as they seize this last chance to set future generations on a course for reconciliation, healing, and justice.

Subject categories


  • Law and Crime > Human RightsViolence Against Women
  • War, Conflict and Peace > WomenWorld War II
  • Civics/Citizenship > Human Rights
  • History and Citizenship Education > Issues in Society Today
  • Social Studies > Law
  • History > World War II

Credits


writer
Tiffany Hsiung
director
Tiffany Hsiung
producer
Anita Lee
executive producer
Anita Lee
associate producer
Deann Borshay Liem
Chris Kang
director of photography
Tiffany Hsiung
editor
Mary Stephen
music
Lesley Barber
sound design
Daniel Pellerin
Daniel Pellerin
featuring
Gil Won-Ok
Adela Reyes Barroquillo
Cao Hei Mao
additional participant
Zhang Shuang Bing
Meehyang Yoon
additional editing
Roslyn Kalloo
assistant picture editor
Tiffany Beaudin
Xi Feng
additional cinematography
Jason Lee
Chris Kang
Mark Valino
Kwoi Gin
Iris Ng
Brandon Relucio
Jong Youl Lee
San Woo
story editor
Anita Lee
Deann Borshay Liem
production supervisor
Mark Wilson
studio administrator
Josiah Rothenberg
Stefanie Brantner
production manager
Chris Kang
production coordinator
Stefanie Brantner
Jennifer Bertling
Rayisa Kondracki
Rayisa Kondracki
Jong Suk Lee
Rayisa Kondracki
technical coordinator
Marcus Matyas
post-production coordinator
Jacqueline Tam
technical assistant
Andrew Martin-Smith
Zoya Rezaie
researcher
Angela Lytle
Jenny Chan
Ruina Bao
production assistant
Dana Nyberg
Marisa Mito
Nicholas Liem
Emily Yuan Wang
Ruina Bao
Matias Wang
Martine Marras
Jennifer Hsiung
Jing Niu
Sunny Yao
Jude Lee
Jennifer Sazon
supervising coordinator
Patrick Carr
sound recording
Ma Jie
Allie Haynes
transportation
Li Jie Xie
fixer
Jin Xian Kong
Juann Stella Choe
translator
Carrie Zhang
Yujing Tian
steadicam
Lee Sang Yun
sound recordist
Uni Park
Jong Suk Lee
Jason Milligan
Jason Milligan
sample reel editor
Vivien Hillgrove
supplement material editor
Gloria Tong
visual research
Elizabeth Klinck
translation
Helen Lee
Juann Stella Choe
Jungyeon Heo
Janet Son
Heidi Kim
Michelle Lee
Yeji Park
Claire Yoon Jung
Yoon Ko
Young Joo Lee
Iyeon Kim
Judy Cho
Wendy Tan
Yujing Tian
Raymond Siu
Shahrzad Nakhai
Marilyn Hidalgo
Haniely Pabelo
Ivy Yukiko Ishihara Oldford
Yusuke Tanaka
Benton Nilson
on-line
Yannick Carrier
mix
Jean Paul Vialard
music editor
Jakob Thiesen
sound editing supervision
Daniel Pellerin
original sound design
James Mark Stewart
dialogue - sync sound editor
Rob Hutchins
effects editor
Geoff Raffan
foley artist
John Sievert
foley recording
Ron Mellegers
foley assistant
Jason Charbonneau
transcription
Christopher Warren
title design
Ryan Patterson
lawyer
Christian Pitchen
marketing manager
Melissa Wheeler
publicist
Jennifer Mair

Awards


  • Busan Cinephile AwardInternational Film Festival
  • Audience AwardCork Film Festival
  • Special Jury Mention Award for the UNESCO Gandhi MedalInternational Film Festival of India
  • Best of FestivalZonta Film Festival
  • Best Canadian FeatureNorthWestFest
  • Audience AwardInternational Female Film Festival
  • Doc:South Award 2017Films from the South Festival
  • Best Documentary FeatureLos Angeles Women's International Film Festival
  • Film of the Year AwardIDF West Lake International Documentary Festival
  • Best Documentary AwardLA Philippines International Film Festival
  • Best Feature Film AwardSeattle Asian American Film Festival
  • duPont-Columbia AwardThe duPont-Columbia Awards