HARUKO (2004)

"HARUKO" is a documentary tracing the life of Haruko Kim, a Korean woman who migrated from poverty-stricken Cheju Island to Japan during the colonial era. Through rare archival footage shot by her son, a cameraman for a pro-North Korean organization in Japan, the film captures the struggles of three generations adapting to life in a foreign land. Set against the backdrop of Shinjuku's transformation from slum to entertainment hub, it reveals the harsh realities faced by Zainichi Koreans. Haruko, portrayed with raw honesty, resorts to illegal means to support her family, enduring multiple arrests in her fight to survive.