Small cinemas needed: Community screenings bring films and connection to rural Korea

The 'Goesan Cinema,' a small theater in the rural county of Goesan, recently hosted a special two-day screening of the documentary film 'Jeongbaengi.' This event was particularly meaningful as it was organized by local residents who formed an 'audience promotion group,' demonstrating a powerful community effort to bring independent films to their town. Adding to the local connection, the film's director, Oh Jeong-hoon, is a resident of Goesan County.

'Jeongbaengi' chronicles the story of a village in Daejeon that was submerged and destroyed by torrential rains and a collapsed embankment in July 2024. The documentary captures the devastating impact on residents' homes and lives, as well as their subsequent journey toward healing and recovery. The film's themes resonated deeply with the Goesan community, who themselves have experienced the destructive power of heavy rainfall and the subsequent evacuation from their homes due to the Goesan Dam overflowing years prior.

Director Oh Jeong-hoon stated his intention was not just to focus on the material damage but to highlight the resilience and strength found in the solidarity of ordinary neighbors when faced with such disasters. The residents' collective effort to organize the screening, bringing together a local director and an audience of their peers, underscored this very theme of community power. The author expressed pride in witnessing this initiative, which made a film with such a message accessible to their local community.

While the opening of the Goesan Cinema in 2018 brought the joy of watching mainstream blockbusters, the author still harbors a wish for one of its three screens to operate as an independent film theater. This desire intensified after driving hours to a neighboring province to watch art films. The 'Jeongbaengi' screening, organized through a community-led initiative, serves as a valuable alternative, allowing residents to watch films they might not otherwise have access to.

However, the author points out that such community efforts shouldn't be the only way for people to access diverse films. Many rural areas across South Korea still lack cinemas. The existence of around 70 'small cinemas' in 65 local government districts aims to address this, serving as crucial cultural and welfare facilities in regions struggling with depopulation and cultural disparity. Yet, many of these small cinemas face financial difficulties, hindering their ability to function effectively. The author calls for policy changes that recognize these cinemas not as profit-driven businesses but as essential regional cultural infrastructure, deserving of adequate support to foster community connection and dialogue through film.

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The director of the film 'Jeongbaengi' wanted to show that the strength to rebuild shattered daily lives ultimately lies in the solidarity of ordinary neighbors.