A sequel to The Wedding Story of a Woman with Disability (1999). Jin-ok Goes to School focuses on Jin-ok’s family life after giving birth to and raising her daughter Seo-kyoung.

Jin-ok is a typical mother. She wishes to bring up her daughter well, and makes an effort to become an insurance broker whilst also counselling women with disabilities who have suffered sexual violence.

The director Kim Jin-yeul made this incredibly intimate documentary by following Jin-ok over a long period of time, a process that by its very nature demands an extremely close relationship between subject and film-maker. Only through such a long-term commitment can a film capture the intimacy of a character’s personal and private life in the poignant detail that this piece achieves.

This is a truly uplifting and inspiring work that challenges prejudiced preconceptions about disability, motherhood, and family life.

Director: Kim Jin-yeul
Cinematographer: Lee Jong-yeul / Kim Jin-yeul
Music: Lim Ji-hun
Country: Korea (South) / Other / Other
Length: 52 minutes
Official film website