Help fund our documentary,
Traces of Brilliant Spirit
Your contribution is essential to bringing this project to life.
We invite you to support us in bringing this important film to life, helping share these essential stories with the world.
The country was occupied, revolution was brewing, and women risked everything to resist colonization.
Traces of Brilliant Spirit weaves together the resilience of generations of Korean freedom fighters whose struggles continue to shape conversations around gender, identity, and belonging. This feature documentary follows artist Yun Suknam as she confronts historical amnesia, uncovering the legacies of Korea’s courageous women rebels. Through collaboration with a Korean American filmmaker, activists, community leaders, and historians, the film brings these untold stories to life—bridging oceans and time to illuminate narratives lost due to the Korean diaspora.
As a Korean American filmmaker, my connection to Korea has always been shaped by distance.
Growing up in the diaspora, I felt the absence of ancestral histories, searching for a cultural identity that had been fragmented by displacement. Inspired by generations of women in my own family who survived war and challenged gender norms, I became acutely aware of the inequalities that persisted within my own life and community. This dual awareness fuels my passion for intersectional storytelling and gender justice, motivating me to create spaces for healing and social change. The film is not just about the past; it is about reclaiming these narratives in the present and exploring how they shape our collective future.
At 85 years old, Yun Suknam has dedicated herself to creating 100 monumental portraits of Korea’s forgotten heroines.
Figures like Kang Ju-ryong, who organized women workers against wage discrimination, Kim Alexandra, who fought for Korean independence in Russia, and Kim Ran-sa, who sought justice for Korea at the Paris Peace Convention, reveal a history of resistance that transcends time. From doctors and students to gisaengs and haenyeo divers, these women embodied resilience in all its forms. Through the artist’s lens, Traces of Brilliant Spirit asks: How can these stories inspire a new generation of Koreans in the diaspora to reimagine identity, belonging, and the fight for justice?
Support Our Film
$10 Contribution
For your support, you will receive a "Special Thanks" film credit in the final film!
$25 Contribution
You will receive a social media shoutout for your support as well as a digital poster of the film. PLUS all previous perks.
$50 Contribution
You will receive a private advanced link to the finished film on the date of its first festival premiere! PLUS all previous perks.
$100 Contribution
For your support you will receive a handwritten postcard featuring an image from our film footage or archives! PLUS all previous perks.
