Disquieting in its own unconventional way, the beauty of Sarajin (Korean for ‘disappearing’) is in a class of its own as it tackles climate change head-on. Justin Kim WooSok’s film explores the director’s research on the Bering Sea and the dire implications it could have on local communities and the world at large. The short premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Set in a remote part of Alaska, a fisherman’s (Jongman Kim) survival is put at risk by the sudden vanishing of snow crabs from nearby waters. With his family’s well-being starting to regress, his wife (Taehee Kim) urges him to take action. Though he is unwilling to take a gamble on sailing further out, the risks of him staying put seem to mount by the hour. Time is of the essence, and a decision must be made whether to push onwards or to stay.
As mentioned, the film is based on WooSok’s own research conducted in Alaska last year. The shocking disappearance of around 10 billion snow crabs served as the writer/director’s launchpad for examining a planet that is constantly being eroded and drained of its natural resources. Sarajin examines but a minuscule slice of this proverbial pie, yet gets its message across thanks to a character-focused approach. Perhaps the short’s scope is a touch too limited, demanding background knowledge from its audience to truly grasp the issue at hand. Be as it may, it’s a poignant conversation starter that feels like it’s always making an effort to immerse the viewer.
Thanks to cinematographer Rasa Partin, each frame of the short feels alive and welcoming in some way, no matter how desolate the locales might be. Caroline Ho’s dark, foreboding soundtrack also deserves major credit for underscoring the short’s most pivotal moments. It’s also a testament to the actors, chiefly the performance of Jongman Kim. His fisherman is by no means foolish but certainly clueless as to how the environment is crumbling before his very eyes. In keeping with that sentiment, Sarajin ends on a fittingly somber note, fading out into the credits with a feeling of profound emptiness. All while its characters sit and watch it happen.
