[HanCinema's Film Review] "Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action"

The Gagnam Station Murder Case in 2016, when a man murdered a completely unknown to him women in the toilets of the station, became the starting point for a surge of the Korean feminism movement, with a number of activist groups deciding to step up and make a change in a rather patriarchal country. One of these groups was Flaming Feminist Action, which was started by Yun Ga-hyun and her friends, Lee Ga-hyun, Kim Se-jeong and Kim Mi-hyun. 4 years later, "Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action" examines the path its members took since then, while placing their actions within the movement. Their effort netted them the Best Korean Documentary Award at the 2021 DMZ International Documentary Film Festival.

"Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action" is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

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The narrative consists of three elements, with the first one including interviews of the girls in a white background, narrating their experiences and their ideology, along with a number of personal thoughts. The second contains footage of the aftermath of the femicide and the way the news covered it, along with various actions the group and the whole movement took, such as rallies, night walks, and discussions in various forums. The third includes interviews and discussions of various members of the movement who share their experiences and the ways they find themselves feeling the injustice of the patriarchy.

One of the main focuses of "Flaming Feminist Action" is the prejudice and essentially racism regarding the presentation of the female body, in contrast to that of men. The need to have long hair, the revealing of the female nipples, and the whole way people respond to women physiology, from naming the reproduction parts to referring to the menstrual cycle are some of concepts the group fought against, both by organizing seminars to inform and educate both adults and students, and through direct clashes with the police. This last aspect, in a confrontation that took place when a number of members decided to bare their breasts in public and faced arrest for it, is one of the most intense moments in the documentary, particularly for the way the girls become vocal in front of the policemen, who, truth be told, are not sure themselves of the reasons they should arrest them. Another really intense moment comes when the members of the group decide to shave their heads, with the same applying to the presentation of the judicial issues they had to face later for their overall actions. Also of note is the footage of Lee Ga-hyun campaigning on the streets for the legislative elections, with the reactions of the people of the streets highlighting various aspects of Korean society, with the majority essentially ignoring her.

Apart from the intense moments, however, Yun Ga-hyun has also included some moments of relative calmness, such as the ones where the girls play basketball or volleyball bare-chested on the beach, which provide a much welcome relief from all the tension that permeates the movie. In that fashion, and through the juxtaposition of the aforementioned narrative elements, the editing here emerges as one of the greatest aspects of the title, with the rather fast pace working excellent for its aesthetics.

The interviews of the members are also rather interesting, particularly because they highlight how much they have thought about the concepts they champion, essentially questioning every action they take regarding whether it benefits or harms the movement. At the same time, their resolve and solidarity with each other also becomes evident, as much as the ways their involvement has changed them individually. Lastly, that they trust the person behind the camera leads them to intense personal opening up, and, on occasion, to tears, in a testament to the realism of the whole production.

"Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action" is an excellent documentary, which manages to be both intensely personal and widely universal, highlighting a series of issues and the actions against them in the most eloquent and artful fashion.

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

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"Boundary: Flaming Feminist Action" is directed by Yun Ga-hyun. No release date in Korea yet.