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Kinship

Name: Kinship
Director: Kim Soo-yong
Released: 1963
Duration: 82 min

Representation Score

3.7/10

Limited

1963

Director

Kim Soo-yong

Runtime

82 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Kim Soo-yong’s drama provides a realistic portrayal of displacement through the lives of North Korean defectors. It delves into the socio-political fractures of the 1960s to shape its characters’ experiences. However, the film does not incorporate modern progressive values that consider multiple aspects of identity. Instead, it focuses on survival within established social structures. While the film offers a nuanced look at ethnic and national identity, it falls short in representing gendered roles and non-traditional gender identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Kinship have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on traditional familial structures and the survival of defectors. There are no explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Kinship portray gender?

Fair

Women are shown in roles of domestic and cultural labor, such as the gisaeng tradition. These roles are often influenced by economic needs and systemic pressures rather than personal choice.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Kinship?

Fair

The story centers on North Korean defectors living on the fringes of society. It explores the concept of internal 'othering' within a country divided by politics.

How does Kinship represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative examines the tension between traditional Korean values and Western influences. It portrays the struggle of preserving cultural heritage amid the changes brought by post-war developments.

Does Kinship include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of physical or mental disabilities being portrayed in this work.

Present on Screen

Offers a significant exploration of ethnic and national identity through the lens of North Korean defectors.
Provides a nuanced look at female survival strategies within a patriarchal framework via the gisaeng tradition.
Effectively captures the tension between traditional Korean values and the pressures of Westernization.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation or narratives concerning LGBTQ+ identities.
Female characters often lack individual autonomy, with roles dictated by economic and systemic necessity.
Provides no discernible representation of physical or mental disabilities.

Official Synopsis

The story takes place on a mountain slope where defectors from North Korea live. These families sell cheap things such as socks and pens to make a living and there is a serious gap between the parents and their children. A widower Kim Deok-sam nags his son Geo-buk to join the American army. Ok-Mae who lives next door teaches her daughter Bok-soon traditional Korean folksongs and forces her to become a gisaeng.

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