The Apology is being presented as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York City. Visit the official site for other cities and dates.
During World War II, 2000 girls and young women were kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery by the imperial Japanese Army. In this advocacy documentary, Tiffany Hsiung, an award-winning filmmaker based in Toronto, presents the true story of three survivors who were "comfort women" more than 70 years ago. They are involved in a fight for justice which involves getting an official apology from the Japanese government.
The violence against women continues as a Japanese politician states that sex slaves were "necessary" during the war and at a rally in front of South Korea's Japanese embassy, men curse and condemn these grandmothers and their supporters as "whores."
Hsiung tells the stories of three elderly women (Adela from the Philippines, Cao from China, Gil from South Korea) who endured the wartime crimes against their humanity, struggled with their own feelings of shame and guilt, kept secrets about what happened to them from loved ones, and with courage and patience launched a crusade to change people and bring truth out of the darkness into the light.
The Apology is a timely and important documentary about the violence that women have endured during wartime and still endure today. It reveals the inner strength of character and conscience needed to speak out for justice; and it lifts up the resilience needed to survive oppression and hold out hope that the next generation will carry on this quest.