Honors the thousands of girls and women from who were forced into sexual…
The Apology
 
									- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
If you are not affiliated with a college or university, and are interested in watching this film, please register as an individual and login to rent this film. Already registered? Login to rent this film. This film is also available on our home streaming platform, OVID.tv.
THE APOLOGY follows the personal journeys of three former 'comfort women' who were among the 200,000 girls and young women kidnapped and forced into military sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. 
Some 70 years after their imprisonment in so-called 'comfort stations,' the three 'grandmothers'- Grandma Gil in South Korea, Grandma Cao in China, and Grandma Adela in the Philippines - face their twilight years in fading health. After decades of living in silence and shame about their past, they know that time is running out to give a first-hand account of the truth and ensure that this horrific chapter of history is not forgotten. 
Whether they are seeking a formal apology from the Japanese government or summoning the courage to finally share their secret with loved ones, their resolve moves them forward as they seize this last chance to set future generations on a course for reconciliation, healing, and justice.
'It's not unusual for documentaries to infuriate viewers, but THE APOLOGY may be one of the most difficult and maddening films to screen over the years.' - POV 
 'A landmark film for its subject matter and the sensitivity with which Hsiung approaches it, THE APOLOGY is one of the best films ever produced by the NFB.' - Digital Journal
Citation
Main credits
								Hsiung, Tiffany (film director)
Hsiung, Tiffany (screenwriter)
Gil, Won-Ok (on-screen participant)
Barroquillo, Adela Reyes (on-screen participant)
Cao, Hei Mao (on-screen participant)
							
Other credits
Producer, Anita Lee; director of photography, Tiffany Hsiung; editor, Mary Stephen; music, Lesley Barber.
Distributor subjects
Asia; Asian Studies; China; East Asia; History; History (Asia); History (World); Human Rights; Japan; Korea; Law; Social Movements; Women's Studies; World War IIKeywords
WEBVTT
 
 00:00:30.250 --> 00:00:52.000
 ♪
 
 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:55.625
 (singing in foreign language)
 
 00:00:55.625 --> 00:03:37.291
 ♪
 
 00:04:13.416 --> 00:04:20.208
 ♪
 
 00:04:50.750 --> 00:04:54.416
 (indistinct shouting)
 
 00:04:54.416 --> 00:05:03.208
 ♪
 
 00:05:51.041 --> 00:05:54.916
 (phone ringing)
 
 00:05:55.125 --> 00:05:59.708
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 00:05:59.875 --> 00:06:03.125
 What she said is, \"If
 you wanna actually make a film,
 
 00:06:03.125 --> 00:06:04.333
 do it good.\"
 
 00:06:04.333 --> 00:06:06.875
 (laughing)
 
 00:06:06.875 --> 00:06:16.208
 ♪
 
 00:06:16.208 --> 00:06:20.000
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.375
 ♪
 
 00:06:25.291 --> 00:06:30.166
 ♪
 
 00:06:40.625 --> 00:06:43.458
 ♪
 
 00:06:43.458 --> 00:06:47.041
 (shouting in foreign language)
 
 00:06:47.541 --> 00:06:51.750
 (cheering)
 
 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:06.000
 (yelling in foreign language)
 
 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:17.000
 ♪
 
 00:07:32.791 --> 00:07:35.666
 (crowd cheering)
 
 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.333
 (indistinct shouting)
 
 00:08:23.333 --> 00:08:27.250
 (singing in foreign language)
 
 00:08:27.250 --> 00:08:36.666
 ♪
 
 00:08:36.666 --> 00:08:39.291
 Recent remarks from
 a Japanese politician
 
 00:08:39.291 --> 00:08:43.625
 saying sex slaves during
 World War II were necessary
 
 00:08:43.625 --> 00:08:46.583
 have sparked outrage
 from the Korean victims.
 
 00:08:46.583 --> 00:08:48.833
 Eighty-eight-year-old
 Kim Bok-dong,
 
 00:08:48.833 --> 00:08:50.416
 and 86-year-old Gil Won Ok,
 
 00:08:50.416 --> 00:08:53.916
 the two elderly victims will
 embark on a two-week tour
 
 00:08:53.916 --> 00:08:57.041
 in Japan to protest
 the offensive remarks
 
 00:08:57.041 --> 00:09:01.416
 by Japanese politicians,
 and spread the truth.
 
 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:11.208
 (murmur of crowd)
 
 00:10:20.375 --> 00:10:22.208
 (sighing)
 
 00:10:22.208 --> 00:10:33.708
 ♪
 
 00:10:42.416 --> 00:10:44.583
 (cameras clicking)
 
 00:10:44.583 --> 00:10:48.291
 ♪
 
 00:10:48.291 --> 00:10:52.250
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 00:10:52.250 --> 00:10:58.791
 ♪
 
 00:11:21.541 --> 00:11:30.416
 ♪
 
 00:11:32.833 --> 00:11:56.541
 ♪
 
 00:11:56.541 --> 00:11:59.041
 (goats bleating)
 
 00:11:59.041 --> 00:12:05.958
 ♪
 
 00:14:54.416 --> 00:15:06.958
 ♪
 
 00:15:26.708 --> 00:15:38.000
 ♪
 
 00:15:58.250 --> 00:16:00.375
 (hammers banging)
 
 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:05.083
 (murmur of crowd)
 
 00:16:05.083 --> 00:16:22.750
 ♪
 
 00:16:30.750 --> 00:16:47.166
 ♪
 
 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:27.916
 ♪
 
 00:18:41.833 --> 00:18:45.708
 (singing in foreign language)
 
 00:18:45.708 --> 00:19:21.333
 ♪
 
 00:19:21.333 --> 00:19:25.291
 (unintelligible), 82 years old.
 
 00:19:25.291 --> 00:19:27.166
 (unintelligible),
 
 00:19:27.166 --> 00:19:30.458
 born in August 20, 1930.
 
 00:19:30.458 --> 00:19:31.833
 I am 79 years old.
 
 00:19:31.833 --> 00:19:36.583
 Adela Barroquillo,
 I am 80 years old already.
 
 00:19:36.583 --> 00:19:40.750
 I live in (unintelligible),
 Lawaan, Roxas City.
 
 00:19:40.750 --> 00:19:45.041
 I\'\'m still strong
 to fight for the right.
 
 00:19:45.333 --> 00:19:46.916
 Perfect, thank you.
 
 00:19:46.916 --> 00:19:51.500
 (singing in foreign language)
 
 00:19:58.041 --> 00:19:59.875
 Your father never knew.
 
 00:20:32.583 --> 00:20:36.041
 ♪
 
 00:20:36.041 --> 00:20:37.125
 So with your family today,
 
 00:20:37.125 --> 00:20:40.833
 you still have to pretend
 nothing happened.
 
 00:20:42.250 --> 00:20:44.750
 ♪
 
 00:21:00.708 --> 00:21:05.375
 Will you ever tell
 your children?
 
 00:21:18.416 --> 00:21:21.791
 (church bell ringing)
 
 00:21:21.791 --> 00:21:23.791
 ♪
 
 00:21:23.791 --> 00:21:27.583
 (singing in foreign language)
 
 00:21:27.583 --> 00:21:32.208
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 00:21:59.958 --> 00:22:02.750
 If you could wish for anything,
 
 00:22:02.750 --> 00:22:04.875
 what would it be?
 
 00:22:18.166 --> 00:22:36.500
 ♪
 
 00:23:19.708 --> 00:23:23.250
 ♪
 
 00:23:33.708 --> 00:23:36.250
 ♪
 
 00:23:42.958 --> 00:23:46.666
 ♪
 
 00:23:50.708 --> 00:23:53.625
 ♪
 
 00:24:05.416 --> 00:24:08.208
 ♪
 
 00:24:08.208 --> 00:24:11.333
 (train rumbling)
 
 00:25:00.250 --> 00:25:02.958
 (laughing)
 
 00:25:02.958 --> 00:25:05.916
 (applause)
 
 00:26:55.458 --> 00:26:58.083
 The co-leader of Japan\'\'s
 Restoration Party,
 
 00:26:58.083 --> 00:27:00.416
 Toru Hashimoto, is
 refusing to back down
 
 00:27:00.416 --> 00:27:04.416
 from the extremely insensitive
 comments he made last week
 
 00:27:04.416 --> 00:27:07.416
 about Japan\'\'s wartime
 use of sex slaves.
 
 00:27:07.416 --> 00:27:08.666
 Kyodo News Agency
 reported Sunday
 
 00:27:08.666 --> 00:27:12.583
 that the Restoration Party\'\'s
 co-leader, Shintaro Ishihara,
 
 00:27:12.583 --> 00:27:14.583
 and secretary general,
 Ichiro Matsui,
 
 00:27:14.583 --> 00:27:18.791
 agreed Hashimoto did not need to
 withdraw his previous comments
 
 00:27:18.791 --> 00:27:23.000
 in which he says sex slavery
 was necessary.
 
 00:27:24.041 --> 00:27:45.791
 ♪
 
 00:28:07.166 --> 00:28:10.833
 ♪
 
 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:45.291
 ♪
 
 00:30:47.791 --> 00:30:49.958
 ♪
 
 00:30:49.958 --> 00:30:53.208
 (applause)
 
 00:30:53.208 --> 00:30:58.083
 ♪
 
 00:31:00.708 --> 00:31:03.458
 ♪
 
 00:31:25.708 --> 00:31:30.125
 (singing in foreign language)
 
 00:31:30.125 --> 00:32:30.208
 ♪
 
 00:35:29.666 --> 00:35:54.833
 ♪
 
 00:35:58.500 --> 00:36:02.875
 ♪
 
 00:36:06.208 --> 00:36:09.625
 ♪
 
 00:37:12.041 --> 00:37:17.541
 ♪
 
 00:37:39.208 --> 00:37:41.500
 ♪
 
 00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:43.875
 (dogs barking)
 
 00:37:43.875 --> 00:37:47.583
 ♪
 
 00:37:47.583 --> 00:37:50.416
 (motor rumbling)
 
 00:37:58.083 --> 00:38:01.791
 ♪
 
 00:38:01.791 --> 00:38:05.791
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 00:38:05.791 --> 00:38:11.458
 ♪
 
 00:38:11.458 --> 00:38:13.416
 This is the house.
 
 00:38:17.250 --> 00:38:21.666
 ♪
 
 00:38:39.583 --> 00:38:43.000
 ♪
 
 00:38:46.583 --> 00:38:56.958
 ♪
 
 00:39:18.583 --> 00:39:21.666
 ♪
 
 00:39:28.916 --> 00:39:33.875
 ♪
 
 00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:52.375
 ♪
 
 00:39:54.916 --> 00:39:59.333
 ♪
 
 00:40:02.875 --> 00:40:09.291
 ♪
 
 00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:22.166
 ♪
 
 00:40:32.791 --> 00:40:37.625
 ♪
 
 00:40:49.250 --> 00:40:54.666
 ♪
 
 00:41:01.583 --> 00:41:05.250
 ♪
 
 00:41:07.791 --> 00:41:11.458
 ♪
 
 00:41:23.333 --> 00:41:31.625
 ♪
 
 00:41:31.625 --> 00:41:34.458
 (birds chirping)
 
 00:41:41.916 --> 00:41:45.125
 (helicopter blades whirring)
 
 00:41:45.125 --> 00:41:48.125
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 00:42:54.541 --> 00:42:57.833
 (crowd shouting)
 
 00:42:58.875 --> 00:43:12.208
 ♪
 
 00:44:32.791 --> 00:44:35.958
 (door dinging and creaking)
 
 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:45.291
 ♪
 
 00:44:53.916 --> 00:44:59.625
 ♪
 
 00:45:40.458 --> 00:45:42.958
 (beeping)
 
 00:45:48.583 --> 00:45:53.666
 ♪
 
 00:49:03.875 --> 00:49:06.250
 ♪
 
 00:49:32.125 --> 00:49:35.916
 ♪
 
 00:49:40.708 --> 00:49:44.791
 ♪
 
 00:49:48.666 --> 00:49:52.500
 ♪
 
 00:50:06.416 --> 00:50:11.333
 ♪
 
 00:50:11.750 --> 00:50:14.541
 (murmur of crowd)
 
 00:50:30.833 --> 00:50:32.583
 Hello?
 
 00:50:34.958 --> 00:50:40.083
 ♪ Happy birthday to you♪
 
 00:50:40.083 --> 00:50:44.708
 ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
 
 00:50:44.708 --> 00:50:50.833
 ♪ Happy birthday,
 happy birthday♪
 
 00:50:50.833 --> 00:50:56.458
 ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
 
 00:50:56.458 --> 00:51:27.125
 ♪
 
 00:51:28.583 --> 00:51:33.791
 ♪
 
 00:51:40.750 --> 00:51:49.666
 ♪
 
 00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:56.083
 ♪
 
 00:52:01.541 --> 00:52:16.166
 ♪
 
 00:53:07.166 --> 00:53:09.500
 And they found out?
 
 00:53:12.125 --> 00:53:13.875
 But you know that
 
 00:53:13.875 --> 00:53:16.625
 because you\'\'re
 willing to tell people
 
 00:53:16.625 --> 00:53:21.041
 that you allow people
 to feel strong.
 
 00:53:21.041 --> 00:53:23.583
 You do that for other people.
 
 00:53:23.583 --> 00:53:26.500
 (roosters crowing)
 
 00:53:29.875 --> 00:53:31.208
 Yes.
 
 00:53:31.208 --> 00:53:39.375
 ♪
 
 00:53:55.250 --> 00:54:03.375
 ♪
 
 00:54:29.875 --> 00:54:32.916
 (shouting in foreign language)
 
 00:54:34.333 --> 00:54:58.166
 ♪
 
 00:55:20.250 --> 00:55:22.708
 (laughing)
 
 00:55:42.625 --> 00:55:45.125
 (rain pattering)
 
 00:56:50.500 --> 00:56:54.000
 (thunder rumbling)
 
 00:56:54.000 --> 00:57:05.208
 ♪
 
 00:57:10.500 --> 00:57:14.583
 ♪
 
 00:57:28.541 --> 00:57:31.041
 ♪
 
 00:57:36.416 --> 00:57:39.875
 ♪
 
 00:58:01.708 --> 00:58:06.708
 ♪
 
 00:58:26.125 --> 00:58:29.791
 ♪
 
 00:58:34.791 --> 00:58:37.166
 (coughing)
 
 00:58:37.166 --> 00:58:47.375
 ♪
 
 00:58:52.666 --> 00:58:56.125
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 00:59:05.916 --> 00:59:08.416
 (cat mewing)
 
 00:59:09.333 --> 00:59:11.500
 (shooing)
 
 00:59:21.208 --> 00:59:24.250
 (crackling and exploding)
 
 00:59:50.208 --> 00:59:56.208
 ♪
 
 01:00:13.916 --> 01:00:16.625
 (fireworks exploding)
 
 01:01:21.208 --> 01:01:24.291
 (cat purring)
 
 01:01:34.666 --> 01:01:52.166
 ♪
 
 01:03:04.708 --> 01:03:07.083
 (engine revving)
 
 01:03:07.083 --> 01:03:18.583
 ♪
 
 01:03:43.375 --> 01:03:46.625
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:03:46.625 --> 01:04:08.000
 ♪
 
 01:04:08.000 --> 01:04:10.416
 (laughing)
 
 01:04:10.416 --> 01:04:21.500
 ♪
 
 01:04:21.500 --> 01:04:24.750
 (bell dinging)
 
 01:05:38.125 --> 01:05:45.500
 ♪
 
 01:05:48.500 --> 01:05:51.333
 (car horns honking)
 
 01:07:03.083 --> 01:07:04.583
 (applause)
 
 01:08:17.000 --> 01:08:24.416
 ♪
 
 01:08:58.625 --> 01:09:02.125
 ♪
 
 01:10:19.416 --> 01:10:24.250
 ♪
 
 01:10:24.250 --> 01:10:26.958
 (applause)
 
 01:10:26.958 --> 01:10:31.458
 ♪
 
 01:10:41.416 --> 01:10:44.083
 (applause)
 
 01:10:44.083 --> 01:10:53.375
 ♪
 
 01:10:53.375 --> 01:10:56.125
 (deep sighs)
 
 01:10:56.125 --> 01:11:00.041
 ♪
 
 01:14:14.541 --> 01:14:28.666
 ♪
 
 01:15:36.000 --> 01:15:42.500
 ♪
 
 01:15:56.791 --> 01:16:06.250
 ♪
 
 01:16:14.708 --> 01:16:18.416
 ♪
 
 01:16:18.416 --> 01:16:20.541
 (crying)
 
 01:16:20.541 --> 01:16:24.000
 ♪
 
 01:16:40.041 --> 01:16:45.291
 ♪
 
 01:16:53.458 --> 01:17:24.458
 ♪
 
 01:17:49.541 --> 01:17:51.708
 ♪
 
 01:17:51.708 --> 01:17:54.833
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:17:54.833 --> 01:17:56.916
 ♪
 
 01:17:56.916 --> 01:17:58.500
 (laughing)
 
 01:17:58.500 --> 01:18:07.000
 ♪
 
 01:18:24.458 --> 01:18:34.416
 ♪
 
 01:18:34.583 --> 01:18:37.083
 (birds chirping)
 
 01:18:43.916 --> 01:18:46.708
 (baby crying)
 
 01:19:05.375 --> 01:19:54.583
 ♪
 
 01:19:54.583 --> 01:19:57.708
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:19:57.708 --> 01:20:01.875
 ♪
 
 01:21:11.791 --> 01:21:14.750
 (applause)
 
 01:21:17.166 --> 01:22:01.916
 ♪
 
 01:22:47.000 --> 01:22:53.291
 ♪
 
 01:23:45.750 --> 01:23:48.875
 (singing in foreign language)
 
 01:23:48.875 --> 01:24:18.500
 ♪
 
 01:24:22.291 --> 01:24:25.250
 (sobbing)
 
 01:24:31.291 --> 01:24:39.916
 ♪
 
 01:24:39.916 --> 01:24:42.875
 (church bell clanging)
 
 01:24:42.875 --> 01:24:57.541
 ♪
 
 01:24:57.541 --> 01:24:59.541
 (crying)
 
 01:24:59.541 --> 01:25:00.666
 ♪
 
 01:25:00.666 --> 01:25:04.041
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:25:10.791 --> 01:25:17.208
 ♪
 
 01:25:17.208 --> 01:25:20.083
 (trowel clanking)
 
 01:25:20.083 --> 01:25:27.333
 ♪
 
 01:26:22.250 --> 01:26:32.041
 ♪
 
 01:28:56.375 --> 01:29:01.500
 ♪
 
 01:29:57.125 --> 01:30:00.083
 ♪
 
 01:30:07.458 --> 01:30:18.208
 ♪
 
 01:30:25.000 --> 01:30:28.208
 ♪
 
 01:30:34.500 --> 01:30:40.791
 ♪
 
 01:30:40.791 --> 01:30:43.833
 (airplane engine rumbling)
 
 01:30:43.833 --> 01:30:56.833
 ♪
 
 01:33:20.541 --> 01:33:40.916
 ♪
 
 01:33:52.625 --> 01:34:05.833
 ♪
 
 01:34:05.833 --> 01:34:08.125
 Oh, yeah.
 
 01:34:08.125 --> 01:34:10.666
 Hello, sorry we are late!
 
 01:34:10.666 --> 01:34:11.708
 ♪
 
 01:34:11.708 --> 01:34:13.708
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:34:19.083 --> 01:34:22.125
 (door closing)
 
 01:34:29.416 --> 01:34:31.041
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:34:31.041 --> 01:34:36.000
 We\'\'re humbly here to ask
 for your help, it\'\'s important.
 
 01:34:36.000 --> 01:34:40.916
 ♪
 
 01:34:40.916 --> 01:34:44.041
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:34:44.041 --> 01:34:44.500
 ♪
 
 01:34:44.500 --> 01:34:47.583
 It\'\'s been so long,
 it\'\'s still not resolved.
 
 01:34:47.583 --> 01:34:52.416
 ♪
 
 01:34:52.416 --> 01:34:55.541
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:34:55.541 --> 01:34:59.708
 ♪
 
 01:34:59.708 --> 01:35:01.583
 It\'\'s frustrating
 it\'\'s been so long
 
 01:35:01.583 --> 01:35:04.416
 and still they
 are denying the truth.
 
 01:35:04.416 --> 01:35:06.541
 ♪
 
 01:35:06.541 --> 01:35:09.583
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:35:09.583 --> 01:35:12.458
 ♪
 
 01:35:12.458 --> 01:35:16.875
 I travel this far
 to plead for your support.
 
 01:35:16.875 --> 01:36:20.833
 ♪
 
 01:36:20.833 --> 01:36:23.458
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:36:23.458 --> 01:36:27.375
 I\'\'m hoping that you guys
 would give us strength.
 
 01:36:27.375 --> 01:36:34.791
 ♪
 
 01:36:34.791 --> 01:36:36.208
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:36:36.208 --> 01:36:38.250
 Please help us, please.
 
 01:36:38.250 --> 01:36:40.250
 She\'\'s asking you,
 \"Please, help us.\"
 
 01:36:40.250 --> 01:36:42.541
 We are going to do
 our best to do...
 
 01:36:42.541 --> 01:36:45.166
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:36:45.166 --> 01:36:47.166
 She said, \"Thank you very much.\"
 
 01:36:47.166 --> 01:37:19.375
 ♪
 
 01:38:46.583 --> 01:38:49.750
 (inhales sharply, sighs)
 
 01:38:58.583 --> 01:39:00.958
 (inhales sharply, sighs)
 
 01:39:00.958 --> 01:39:07.500
 ♪
 
 01:39:07.500 --> 01:39:10.083
 (crying)
 
 01:39:10.083 --> 01:39:13.750
 ♪
 
 01:39:13.750 --> 01:39:17.458
 (speaking in foreign language)
 
 01:39:25.958 --> 01:39:28.000
 (laughing)
 
 01:40:57.958 --> 01:44:30.958
 ♪
 
	 
		