- Welcome to POV.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
It's been said that adoption builds families
through connection as opposed to biology.
In tonight's film, we see a woman
try to connect with her biological parents
two decades after she was given up for adoption
in the film Between Goodbyes.
Between Goodbyes is the story of Mieke
and her mother Okgyun.
Mieke was born in South Korea in 1982,
but given up for adoption just after her birth.
Mieke's parents felt pressure to give her up
due to societal and economic complications.
The decision was one her mother Okgyun would regret forever.
Mieke was raised in the Netherlands
and was happy and content
and living openly as a queer woman.
She says she never really thought about
contacting her original parents,
but one day in 2002, they contacted her.
Over the years, Mieke and her mom connect multiple times,
and there is often a divide to be overcome.
The film explores what it means to call a place or people home,
and how two people can still feel connected
while overcoming differences, generationally and culturally,
in addition to having a language barrier.
It's easy to see what drew director Jota Mun
to this project.
There was an instant connection and understanding
between Mun and their star subject.
Mun is also adopted and queer,
allowing them to tell their story with sensitivity,
and also providing comfort when needed to Mieke
during the filming process.
Mun reluctantly appears on camera as well.
When it came to considering themself as one of the actors,
Mun was apprehensive.
When they would see themself on camera,
they were conflicted about it, often arguing with their editor
that they were on the screen too much,
fearing it would shift the focus from Mieke's story.
Their editor finally convinced them it was okay
to be in the film
to show the understanding and connection that adoptees have.
This is Mun's feature film documentary debut.
For their first time in the director's chair,
it's a pretty impressive effort,
as the film has won multiple awards at film festivals.
From start to finish, Mun shows a journey between characters
that teems with emotions
and breaks through stereotypes truthfully and thoughtfully.
They retraces the events that led to this point
in their characters' lives,
and shows Mieke a side of herself she didn't know existed.
So sit back and watch a film that shows that great distances
and long absences are no match for the mother-daughter bond.
Between Goodbyes starts now on PBS Wisconsin,
your home for independent film.