Socheata Poeuv interviews In-Soo Radstake about MADE IN KOREA
The wisest and most succinct description of the documentary filmmaker’s plight came from Alfred Hitchcock: “In feature films the director is God; in documentary films God is the director.” The six nominees for this year’s Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award underscore this idea perfectly, as they chased after tales of survival and self-discovery, hula dancers and rogue politicians, family histories and the history of freedom. We decided to let our documentary filmmakers speak for themselves by inviting them to interview each other about the motivations, challenges, and secrets of their taxing yet noble art form.
In-soo Radstake, director of MADE IN KOREA.
Socheata Poeuv: Why do you think going-home narratives are so popular in Asian films and books?
I think the Asian community can relate so much with the whole ‘going home’ issue because lots of Asians live outside their native countries. They live there for several reasons: for a better future, escaped from regimes, war. People made dramatic choices, or had to. Separated from loved ones, they understand what others are going through and are also curious for their experiences of going home, I think.
SP: What does “going home” mean and imply to you?
As far as I’m concerned, ‘going home’ is the Netherlands for me, going back to my old village where my parents live. But it’s the old home. My new home is where I live now, together with my girlfriend. Korea is my native country, but it’s not my home, it has never been. But it has a special meaning for me, because it’s where I came from, and it’s a country that has enriched my life in many ways. But I feel ‘home’ almost everywhere I go, but I like it to go back to the Netherlands after a while.
SP: I’m interested in your experience of growing up Asian in Holland. How do you think it’s different than growing up Asian in any other Western country (such as the United States, for instance)?
When I arrived in Holland in 1980, I grew up in a small village in an all-Caucasian environment. But I myself never felt really different until I was like thirteen years old. Suddenly I realized that I was not white, ha ha. But I never had a problem with it. But I know from people around me they really felt different and sometimes uncomfortable. I think growing up in the bigger cities of the U.S. might make you feel more comfortable, because there are more nationalities and more Asians around you. Although in Holland it’s also a melting pot in the bigger cities.
SP: How does being a Korean or a minority inform your filmmaking?
For me personally I don’t feel like I am a minority. But I do feel that others regard me as that and in some ways that opens doors for me. Other Asians and Koreans are more open to me, because they regard me as one of them and sort of same culture. I do know that being bi-cultural (Dutch and Korean) gives me some advantages and it also gave me new perspectives in different cultures and understanding them.
SP: What are your next projects?
I’m going to produce a short feature film which is a story about hope and inspiration, situated in Rotterdam during World War II. This film will premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam next year. Furthermore I am developing a couple of documentaries and feature films, some as a producer and some as a director. Can’t tell much about it yet, because it’s still in progress.
One feature film I am working on is about the gay issue in South Korea with South Korean film star Hong-Suk Chun, who is gay. The story is based on his life and experiences. I am still working on the funding for it, so if you know some people who want to invest, let them call me hahaha.