Busan:Stephanie Ahn, director of the film "Bedford Park," was inspired to create her first feature film by her desire to deeply explore the Korean American experience.
According to Yonhap News Agency, "Bedford Park" won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature at Sundance. The film tells the story of an unexpected bond between Audrey, a Korean American physical therapist played by Moon Choi, and Eli, a Korean immigrant adopted by a white family, portrayed by Son Suk-ku.
Ahn expressed her admiration for existing Korean American or Asian American stories but felt they only touched on these experiences superficially. She mentioned that "Bedford Park" lays bare the characters' family traumas and personal wounds, including Audrey's challenges of interpreting for her non-English-speaking parents.
Ahn highlighted the film's universal appeal, aiming to connect with audiences who have lived between two contrasting worlds. She shared that her own Korean American immigrant family background influenced Audrey's character.
The screening of her film at the Busan International Film Festival marked Ahn's first visit to South Korea in over 25 years, which she described as an emotional homecoming. She also expressed her admiration for Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, particularly his film "Secret Sunshine."
The trip has been significant for Ahn, as her parents, who are not film enthusiasts, saw the film for the first time in South Korea and found it deeply moving.