I found myself at an impasse, consumed by the question: "Can I truly continue making films and art?" As an artist who must also survive within society, these were deep, existential concerns. This crisis led me to Song Jong-won (90), a master stone craftsman famous for sculpting Dolhareubang (Jeju's iconic stone guardians). When I first encountered him, my primary question was simple: "What is his enduring motivation to keep creating these stone figures?" I began visiting his workshop every week. I discovered that Mr. Song, despite growing up in an era when finishing middle school was difficult, had gone on to major in English literature and become a teacher. Yet, he eventually became so absorbed in stone craft that he quit his formal career. For six months, my camera captured Mr. Song Jong-won as he meticulously completed a single Dolhareubang.

The completion of a single Dolhareubang demands time, and I wanted the audience to feel the visceral passage of that time. I framed the shots to continuously feature the workshop space, allowing the audience to witness the background change with the shifting seasons and weather. The editing pace is intentionally long and loose, reflecting the reality that any creation is the sum of countless layers built from moments of quiet patience and endurance. Furthermore, the craftsman's words are used sparingly within the film, as less said lead to greater resonance.

2025 제12회 부천노동영화제