NFB Collection
The Apology
20161 h 44 min 38 secFilm: Documentary
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.
Availability
Other versions
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