Coming to You
Gyuri Byun's groundbreaking Korean documentary centers on two working class mothers, Nabi and Vivian. Like many in South Korea, where there is a distinct lack of legal protections for queer communities and gay marriage remains illegal, neither women gave much thought to LGBTQ+ rights or its growing advocacy among the country's younger generations. Therefore, their lives and perceptions were upended when their respective children come out to them — Nabi's as trans, and Vivien's as gay. Reluctant to accept this news at first, both women's reactions reveal deep-rooted discriminatory beliefs about queerness. This is not uncommon in South Korean society, which makes their respective transformations all the more impactful — both women grew to not only accept their children's gender and sexuality, but became activists in their own right as members of Parents, Families and Allies of LGBTAIQ+ People in Korea. Both Nabi and Vivian grapple with the pain and lonlinees their children feel, the struggle to access gender affriming care, and the yearning for socital and familial aceptance. Without shying away from their inital discrimiantory opinions, Gyun's impressive film tells an unflinchingly honest story of hard-won allyship and gives faith to the idea that people can change their minds.
Director & Cast
- Director: Gyuri Byun
- Starring: Eunae 'Nabi' Jeong
- Starring: Sunhwa 'Vivian' Kang
- Starring: Hankyeol Lee
- Starring: Yejoon Joung
Where to Watch
Trailer
Photos
Reviews
- ""Coming to You" emerges as an excellent documentary, which makes its comments in a way that is both easy to watch and highly informative."
- "Coming to You is a sweet, understanding and kind exploration of mother-son relationships and how they evolve. It’s an inspiration for other parents to embrace their queer children, watching how these two mothers whole-heartedly throw themselves into the community, prepared to listen, learn and love their children for who they are."
- "By concentrating on a handful on individuals, we get to witness firsthand how difficult the journey through the South Korean legal structure is...."
- "Byun Gyu-ri's "Coming to You" tells the stories about two loving moms of LGBTQ+ children, Nabi and Vivian. It documents how they cope with their children's realization of being in the sexual minority, how they actively get involved in Korea's PFLAG organization, and how they offer their unconditional love and support to their children."
Documentary Award
Jeonju Film Festival
Special Mention - Korean Film Competition
Jeonju Film Festival
Brave New Docs Award
DMZ Int'l. Documentary Film Festival
Best Film of the Year
Cine21
Best Documentary
Grand Bell Awards, South Korea