In this blog post, I will summarize my thoughts on the documentary “May (Love)” and provide a scene-by-scene analysis.
Introduction and Reason for Selection
I don’t usually enjoy watching documentaries. The only one I had seen before was ‘Mangwon-dong Satellite,’ but I couldn’t find it even if I wanted to watch it again. ‘May (Love)’ was a film I ended up watching by chance after a friend recommended it. After seeing this film, I became emotionally invested in the documentary genre, and I noticed several things when comparing it to feature films made on the same subject. My primary reason for choosing this film was personal. I was drawn to it because it dealt with the events my mother experienced in Gwangju and the historical issue of the May 18th Democratization Movement, a topic I have always found fascinating. While interpretations vary widely depending on one’s historical perspective and values, I was curious to see what kind of impression I would get from a truthful documentary addressing the May 18th Gwangju Democratization Movement. I did not intend to take a political stance, and while I personally view the May 18th Movement as a civic movement for democratization, I also wanted to hear the other stories presented in the film.
This documentary conveys the vivid accounts of those who directly experienced, witnessed, and felt the events, rather than relying on textbook facts. Although it takes the form of personal testimonies, where the speaker’s subjectivity and fiction may intertwine, it actually feels more authentic. While typical historical documentaries arrange archival footage, this work illuminates the past through people’s testimonies and also shows the present realities they face as a result. By not merely focusing on the past but also addressing current conflicts, it is more than enough to pique the viewer’s curiosity.
Summary by Sequence
Opening Sequence
In the opening segment, the documentary presents the facts and establishes the direction of the film. By showing people who find it difficult to speak about the events even now, some 30 years later, it maximizes the message the film aims to convey and sparks curiosity. This opening, which stimulates curiosity much like a feature film, serves to shatter the stereotype that documentaries are tedious and outdated.
Memories of That Day
Once the film gets underway, it tells the stories of ordinary citizens who were part of history but are now largely unknown. Citizens’ militiamen, a platoon leader from the martial law forces, journalists, and others—people from diverse walks of life—calmly recount their memories of that day. This sequence focuses primarily on historical facts, explaining why such events occurred in Gwangju and presenting the truth as witnessed by those directly involved. Providing accurate information and setting the stage early in the film establishes the context necessary for the story’s subsequent development. It also shows how ordinary Gwangju citizens became involved in the events and what their lives are like today. The camera calmly captures people whose lives have changed—some unable to fully use their legs, others running a neighborhood Chinese restaurant—even though their lives appear peaceful on the surface.
Women’s Memories
In the scene where the grandmother says recounting that day’s events is pointless, the memory that the fruit vendors struggled to recall is the story of the rice balls. It calmly recounts the story of how, amidst difficult circumstances, people rolled up their sleeves to share rice balls with the people of Gwangju. Through these narrative-driven accounts, viewers discover aspects they hadn’t previously known, and as the explanations unfold, the audience naturally becomes immersed. The benefits of this explanatory approach are effectively conveyed.
Gwangju Today
It highlights the crucial fact that, even today, Gwangju remains divided over the May 18th incident.
One senses an effort not merely to shed light on the past but to highlight the current problems stemming from it. Gwangju today is divided. Those who want to preserve the Jeonnam Provincial Government Building and those who argue against being trapped by the past and advocate for its demolition are in sharp conflict. This appears to reflect a shift in consciousness within Korean society. While people back then were tightly united and moved forward with a sense of community, they are now portrayed as divided by self-interest.
Gwangju of the Past, and Now Again
Returning to the past, the film addresses the final events at the provincial government building: the mass firing and the dawn crackdown. It conveys the situation where Gwangju citizens were labeled as rioters through a radio broadcast stating, “There were no civilian casualties,” and unfolds the conclusion of the incident like the climax of a drama. As the narrator’s emotions intensify, the audience’s hearts are moved as well.
The history that the state once called the “Gwangju May 18 Uprising” is now commemorated as the “May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement,” yet even 30 years later, Gwangju still feels oppressed. Songs honoring the fallen are banned, and people are dragged away. This sharply highlights the issues that remain unresolved.
This story was also used as a subject in the film ‘A Splendid Holiday’. While that work depicted the events realistically, it was a reconstructed narrative. Though the subject matter is the same, the feel is different. The suffering and pain of the people—which cannot be felt in ‘A Splendid Holiday’—are conveyed more vividly in the documentary. That seems to be the power of realism and the appeal of the documentary genre.
“May (Love)” addresses both the past and the present, reminding us of what we must remember. It urges us not to forget the past while drawing attention to issues that remain ongoing.
