In April 1980, a massive "disturbance" erupted in Sabuk, a town in Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province. Over 3,000 miners, pushed to the brink by relentless surveillance and exploitation, seized control of the area and clashed with authorities. A last-minute deal was struck, narrowly averting the deployment of martial law forces and a potential bloodbath. Nevertheless, the conflict resulted in numerous casualties. Even now, more than four decades later, the scars of this event remain deeply etched in the community's collective memory.

I commenced shooting in Sabuk in early May 2019 and spent a considerable amount of time there. Over the course of more than 140 shooting sessions and interviews with over 100 people, I meticulously gathered every available archive. Yet, despite this extensive effort, a lingering sense of regret persists. I deeply yearned to enter the tunnels and barracks, to truly immerse myself in the miners' world, but it was not possible. Without having experienced their grueling labor firsthand, do I deserve to speak of their hard labor? Nevertheless, I hope this film can serve as a conduit for understanding the profound scars left by that brutal period in 1980.

2024 제16회 DMZ국제다큐멘터리 영화제 한국경쟁 장편 대상, 국제영화비평가연맹상