Overview

THE TERRITORIAL DISPUTE BETWEEN JAPAN AND KOREA OVER THE DOKDO/TAKESHIMA ISLETS REACHES FAR BEYOND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. IN BOTH COUNTRIES, CITIZENS’ GROUPS PROTEST, LOBBY, AND TRY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. THIS ISLAND IS OURS FOLLOWS TWO OF THESE PEOPLE: A KOREAN KINDERGARTEN CARETAKER WITH A HISTORY OF STUDENT ACTIVISM AND A JAPANESE HOUSEWIFE WHO RECENTLY LOST HER HUSBAND. BOTH WORK TIRELESSLY TO CLAIM SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE SAME SMALL ISLETS, WHICH KOREA CONTROLS BUT JAPAN ALSO CLAIMS.

THE FILM OFFERS A RARE LOOK INTO THEIR LIVES. BY SHOWING THEIR EXPERIENCES SIDE BY SIDE, IT PRESENTS THEIR WORK FROM A NEUTRAL POINT OF VIEW AND ALLOWS THE AUDIENCE TO SEE WHAT DRIVES EACH OF THEM.

THIS DOCUMENTARY GREW OUT OF A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MYSELF AND ALEXANDER BUKH, A WELLINGTON-BASED SCHOLAR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN NORTHEAST ASIA. WE DIRECTED THE FILM TOGETHER AND SHOOTING TOOK PLACE IN BOTH SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN. IN ADDITION TO CO-DIRECTING, I ALSO WORKED AS THE CINEMATOGRAPHER AND LATER AS EDITOR AND COLORIST IN POST-PRODUCTION.

DIRECTOR

NILS CLAUSS & ALEXANDER BUKH

PRODUCTION

A CONTENTED PRODUCTION WITH SUPPORT FROM THE MARSDEN FUND COUNCIL (ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND)