Overview

As a filmmaker Based in Seoul, I made Plastic Girls to reflect on the subtle but persistent sexualisation of public space in South Korea. The film observes life-sized plastic figures placed outside businesses. We See mannequins that move slowly and mechanically, often accompanied by digitally generated messages. Their presence is casual, almost routine, yet difficult to ignore.

Rather than approaching the subject through confrontation, the film stays patient. The camera watches these figures in their everyday surroundings: sidewalks, storefronts, busy streets. Their gestures are repetitive and strangely graceful. At the same time, they reveal how commercial imagery can shape the atmosphere of shared public environments.

Plastic Girls is the final chapter of a Korea-related trilogy that began with Bikini Words and continued with Last Letters. While each film stands on its own, they are connected through a broader interest in language, visibility and social space. In this closing work, the focus turns clearly toward gender equality and the normalisation of certain visual codes within urban life.

As a filmmaker Seoul, my intention was not to speak over the issue but to create room for reflection. The film is dedicated to those in South Korea who question the sexualisation of public space and continue to advocate for change. It does not offer a direct solution. Instead, it frames what is already present and asks the viewer to look more carefully.

Film blog Directors Notes published an in-depth interview about the project, offering further insight into the background and approach behind Plastic Girls. A link to the feature can be found at the bottom of this page.

DIRECTOR

NILS CLAUSS

PRODUCTION

A CONTENTED PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH MINORITY