As a director, I am passionate about telling stories that explore the complexities of identity and motherhood, particularly in the face of adversity. I first met Yona while volunteering for a North Korean NGO in Canada, and was immediately struck by the universal emotional themes in her story.

 

For many North Korean female escapees, their escape to South Korea is fraught with danger and exploitation, and through the coerced marriage market in China, often results in stranded children. A UN report estimates that there are almost 30,000 stateless children born to North Korean escapees in China. Yona’s story is unique in that she chose to bring her son with her in search of a better life, even though it took her 15 years to do so.

 

However, once in Canada, Yona faced another challenge as a mother: building a relationship with her Chinese teenage son, with whom she suffered a long separation. Through my film, I wanted to capture the emotional journey that Yona and her son had to go through in order to build a new home together.

 

Through Yona and Jeffrey's story, I aim to bring attention to the challenges and struggles faced by refugees and immigrants worldwide, and the need to understand the dynamics of family reunification. I want to reflect on the fundamental concepts of home, family, and identity. By exploring their emotional journey, I hope to inspire viewers to empathize with those who have had to leave behind their homes and must rebuild their lives in foreign lands.