Byun Young-joo facts for kids

Byun Young-joo (Hangul: 변영주; born December 20, 1966) is a talented South Korean film director. She is known for making movies that explore important topics. Her films often focus on women's rights and human rights, showing real-life stories and struggles.

Byun Young-joo's Journey in Film

Starting Her Career

Byun Young-joo first studied law at Ewha Womans University. Later, she went on to study film at Chung-Ang University. This mix of law and film helped her tell powerful stories.

In 1989, she became a founding member of a women's film group called "Bariteo." This group used films to talk about women's issues. She worked as a cinematographer (the person who operates the camera) on early short films. These films looked at topics like fairness at work and childcare in tough neighborhoods.

Making Important Documentaries

Her first major film was a documentary called The Murmuring (1995). This film became very famous in Korea. It was the first documentary in the country to be shown in movie theaters. The film showed women holding weekly protests at the Japanese embassy. It highlighted their fight to overcome feelings of shame and gain strength.

Another documentary, Habitual Sadness (1997), was made at the request of the women themselves. It showed the final days of a group member who was very ill. This film also showed how the women gained confidence. They even started using cameras themselves to share their stories and help each other heal.

In Documentary of Yang Joo-nam (1998), Byun focused on another director. Yang Joo-nam was active in Korean cinema many years ago. Byun's film explored her life after she had lived away from the public eye for a long time.

Byun also helped produce Koryu: Southern Women, South Korea (2001). This documentary explored how women expressed themselves in Korea, both in the past and in modern times. It showed the complex lives of women who felt like "temporary residents" in a world often shaped by men. She also worked as a cinematographer for Repatriation (2004). This film followed two North Korean political prisoners. It showed their long struggle to return home after being released.

Moving to Feature Films

Byun Young-joo also directs feature films, which are fictional stories. Her film Flying Boys (2004) is a coming-of-age story. It's about young people growing up and finding love. The film also shows the challenges faced by people from less wealthy backgrounds. For this movie, her young actors took ballet classes for two months to prepare for their roles.

She also made a short documentary film called The Wise Way to Remember the 20th Century (2008). This film was part of a special project for the 10th anniversary of the International Women's Film Festival in Seoul. It looked at the writings of a famous author, Park Wan-suh. The film explored how her work influenced Byun and other women artists today.

Her most recent film, Helpless (2012), is a mystery thriller. It is based on a Japanese novel. The story is about a young woman who disappears just before her wedding. The film also touches on modern issues like private loans and financial difficulties. Helpless was a huge success. Byun won the Best Director award at the 2012 Baeksang Arts Awards and the Women in Film Korea Awards. It sold 2.4 million tickets, making it her biggest hit so far!

Byun Young-joo's Films

• Helpless (2012)
• The Wise Way to Remember the 20th Century (documentary short, 2008)
• Flying Boys (2004)
• Ardor (2002)
• My Own Breathing (documentary, 1999)
• Documentary of Yang Joo-nam (documentary, 1998)
• Habitual Sadness (documentary, 1997)
• The Murmuring (documentary, 1995)
• Women Being in Asia (documentary, 1993)

Awards and Recognition

Byun Young-joo has won many awards for her amazing work:

• 2012 Women in Film Korea Awards: Woman Filmmaker of the Year (for Helpless)
• 2012 Baeksang Arts Awards: Best Director (for Helpless)
• 1999 Pusan International Film Festival: Woonpa Fund (for My Own Breathing)
• 1998 Taiwan International Documentary Festival: Merit Prize (for Habitual Sadness)
• 1996 Korean Film Critics Association: Film Critics Special Award (for The Murmuring)
• 1995 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival: Shinsuke Ogawa Award (for The Murmuring)