My Own Breathing (2000)
The powerful final chapter of Byun Young-joo's landmark documentary trilogy, giving voice to Korean comfort women survivors.
My Own Breathing - Movie Information
- Original Title: 낮은 목소리 3 - 숨결
- Release Year: 2000
- Directed by: Byun Young-joo
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 1h 17m
- Original Language: Korean
- Spoken Languages: Korean
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 18, 2000 (South Korea - ALL)
- Alternative Titles: The Murmuring III (UK), Sumgyeol - Najeun moksori 3 (KR)
- Production Companies: Docu-Factory Vista
- Production Countries: South Korea
My Own Breathing - Plot
"My Own Breathing" is the final documentary of the trilogy, The Murmuring about comfort women during the World War II directed by BYUN Young-joo. This is the completion of her seven years work. BYUN's first and second documentaries spoke of grandmothers' everyday life through the origin of their torment, while My Own Breathing goes back to their past from their everyday life. Deleting any device of narration or music, the camera lets grandmothers talk about themselves. Finally, the film revives their deep voices trampled by harsh history.
Where to Watch My Own Breathing
Looking for where to watch My Own Breathing?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
My Own Breathing - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Byun Young-joo
Producers
- Shin Myoung-hwa
- Shin Hye-eun
My Own Breathing - FAQs
What is My Own Breathing about?
My Own Breathing is the concluding chapter of Byun Young-joo's documentary trilogy on Korean comfort women — women forced into sexual slavery by Japan during World War II. Stripping away narration and music entirely, the film lets the survivors speak for themselves, restoring dignity and voice to women long silenced by history.
Is My Own Breathing based on a true story?
Absolutely. The film documents the real lives of Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. These survivors, known as comfort women, share their personal testimonies directly on camera, making this one of the most powerful first-hand historical records of their experiences.
Who directed My Own Breathing?
Byun Young-joo directed the film. She also served as the cinematographer, giving the project a deeply personal, intimate quality. My Own Breathing is the third and final installment of her seven-year documentary trilogy The Murmuring, which she dedicated entirely to documenting the lives of Korean comfort women survivors.
What makes this documentary different from the first two?
While the first two films in The Murmuring trilogy explored the grandmothers' daily lives through the lens of their trauma, My Own Breathing reverses that approach — moving from everyday life back into the past. Most strikingly, Byun removed all narration and music, letting the women's own voices carry the entire film.
When was My Own Breathing released?
My Own Breathing was released on March 18, 2000, in South Korea. It marks the culmination of director Byun Young-joo's seven-year journey documenting the lives and testimonies of Korean comfort women survivors through her acclaimed trilogy The Murmuring.
How long is My Own Breathing?
My Own Breathing runs for 77 minutes. Despite its relatively brief runtime, the film carries enormous emotional and historical weight, offering an unfiltered, deeply human portrait of survivors whose stories had been suppressed for decades.
What are similar documentaries to My Own Breathing?
If My Own Breathing moved you, you might also connect with Citizenfour (2014), RBG (2018), Nothing Like a Dame (2018), Varda by Agnès (2019), or The Elephant Whisperers (2022). These documentaries share a similar commitment to centering human voices and lived experience at the heart of their storytelling.
What is the significance of the comfort women issue?
The comfort women issue remains one of the most painful and contested chapters of 20th-century history. Tens of thousands of women, predominantly Korean, were coerced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. Byun Young-joo's trilogy is widely regarded as a landmark effort to preserve their testimonies before they were lost forever.
More About My Own Breathing
Explore further details and databases for this film.