The Apology director Tiffany Hsiung and executive producer Anita Lee
The Apology..…before it’s too late
Canada’s Senator Salma Ataullahjan, Senator Tobias Enverga Jr., Senator Mobina Jaffer, Senator Yonah Martin, Senator Thanh Hai Ngo and Senator Victor Oh hosted a private screening of “The Apology” in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada.
It was held last Monday, November 28, 2016, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Room 160-S.
After the movie screening, director Tiffany Hsiung and producer / executive producer Anita Lee answered questions from the audience about the documentary.
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.
It is also eye-opening, especially for me, as a young woman, living in today’s generation. It allowed me to appreciate the country and the type of society I live in even more. I believe that the overall goal of the film is to share the stories of the grandmothers to the whole world and hopefully gather a wide-range of support to accomplish what they are striving for. The grandmothers wanted a formal apology from the Japanese government and also to promote forgiveness, healing and justice.
One of our photographers, Frances Espinoza, a very young woman of Filipino heritage has these to share about her observation after watching the documentary:
“Amid all the injustices happening in this world, resolved and unresolved ones, there is a particular story that is often forgotten by most people today. It is the story about the atrocities that women faced during World War II.
About 200,000 women who were as young as 13 years old were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. I was privileged and honoured to watch a documentary called The Apology by Tiffany Hsiung. It was a personal story of three former “comfort women”. The film allowed you to connect with these women in a personal level.
The strength that these grandmothers showed are truly inspiring that despite all the hardships they faced, they are still able to showcase beautiful smiles from their faces. I cannot imagine going through all they have experienced, but as a woman and a human, I truly respect them and I am giving them all my support.”
How about you? What do you know about “Comfort Women” in World War II.
You must see this documentary. Here is a youtube trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTtm2HIvwK4
The Apology receceived the following awards:
*Busan Cinephile Award at the Busan International Film Festival‘s Vision Awards.[7]
*Audience Award at the 2016 Cork Film Festival
