A Ray of Sunlight
It was produced based on the Jeju Island Topdong Haenyeo Struggle in 1988. It contains the story of a family that is suffering from the tyranny of big capital and losing their identity.
Ok-hee, a haenyeo (traditional female diver) from the lower region of Jeju, is unsettled to learn that her daughter Eun-young—who has returned to the island in urgent need of money—plans to sell the small laundry shop once cherished by her late husband. Her son, who has been staging a one-man protest over unpaid construction wages, also finds his resolve wavering upon hearing news of a redevelopment project.
As each family member grapples with their own desires and perspectives, long-buried tensions and unresolved grievances resurface. The film gently but poignantly portrays the misunderstandings, conflicts, and emotional wounds within a family—and, more broadly, within a community that shares a common home. It reflects on what must be let go and what must be protected as time inevitably moves on.
— Park Ila, Programmer
Director MOON Sookhee draws, makes movies, and writes novels. She consistently works on the environment, traditions, and stories about the underprivileged. The films A Ray of Sunlight, Memories of Four Days, Long for, and Chen-woo and Mr. Shin_jo directed a movie such as. In 2024, she won the Literature Prize for her novel ¡º Borrowed Clothes¡».