-The 11th Disabled Peoples' Human Rights Film Festival-
He left for the market, but sadly, the only way to get there was under construction. He was barely able to pass, but he finally reached there. Then the elevator door closed too quickly. The ramp on the way to the gate of the bank was too high, and the sidewalk was blocked by a huge street lamp. He told his friend what a tough day it was. His friend was an electric wheelchair, too.
This is a part of the 'Scooter's One Day' awarded People's Choice Award in the '11th Disabled people's Human Right Film Festival'. This work was directed by Kang Moon-jong. This movie deals with some problems the disabled have, caused mainly by the lack of convenient facilities for them. And the means of transportation for the disabled, such as scooters and electric wheelchairs, are expressed as personified characters.
The 11th Jeju Disabled People's Human Rights Film Festival, sponsored by the Jeju Disabled Peoples' International Korea, or JDPI, was held at the Jeju Media Center on September 18th and 19th. This festival allowed disabled people to direct and produce movies with various themes related to the lives of the disabled. The purpose of this film festival is to straighten out the distorted view of the disabled and to build a community where people can exist together, even though they are different.
This year, the festival screened a total of 14 movies including one entitled 25-year-old person's standing alone. All the films voice up various rights of disabled people: independence, access, convenient facilities, activity assistance service and policy.
The award includes Excellent Movie Award, Disabled People's Human Rights Award, and Good People's Choice Award.
Kang Myo-ae received the Excellent Movie Award for his movie Senior, how did you study?. His movie deals with the college life of hearing-impaired students.
A deaf person completes middle and high school courses without getting any assistance and finally manages to enter college. Other students dream of a romantic college life but disabled people cannot. Although they cannot hear and understand the classes, there are no helpers for them.
This movie criticized our society which has few colleges carrying out a ‘helper for the disabled program'.
The Disabled People's Human Rights Award went to Jang Ho-gyeong, the director of the movie Jeong Eun-ju: her dream of what she wants to achieve. In this movie, Jeong recites her poem entitled Too much Concern found at the bottom of this article. In her poem, Jeong expresses her dislike of the ridiculous questions people ask her all the time.
Jeju DPI president Kim Sang-beom's greeting can be understood in the same context. "When appreciating their work, I hope ordinary people don't look at them with eyes of sympathy and dispensation. Also I wish the disabled people of our community to be entitled to live together with others and to share a common space," said Kim Sang-beom.
What disabled people want is a not sympathy, but a common understanding of their differences.
Too much concern
by Jeong Eun-ju
Do you have a meal?
Can you eat food by yourself?
How can you go outside?
Where are you going?
How do you go to the toilet?
Who takes care of you at home?
Who do you live with?
Where do you live?
What can you do by yourself?
What school did you graduate?
How much money are you supported from the country?
Can you talk?
Can you write?
Do you know God?
Where do you hurt?
How come you got disabled?
How old are you?
What's your name?
Tell me how you ride a wheelchair.
Do you go to a welfare center?
What are the things financially supported by the country?
Why do you come outside on this rainy day?
Don't ask me such questions...
Don't tell me 'the world has become much better' at what you says.
If we live in a better world, you do not ask me such questionsand I won't be told such ridiculous questions, either.