DOCUMENTARY
In Their Own Words
DOCUMENTARY
2025
98 minutes Episode(s): 1
english
Japanese
english
Japanese
2026 LA Independent Women Film Award - Best Director
2026 Berlin Indie Film Festival - Best Director: Documentary
San Francisco Women Film Festival March 2026 - Semi-finalist
2026 London Film & Television Festival - Finalist
2026 ORION IFF International Film Festival - Finalist: Human Rights Film
2026 London International Filmmakers Festival - Semi-final: Best International Documentary
Chicago Filmmaker Awards April 2026 - Best Documentary Director
In 1932, Japan established the puppet state of Manchukuo in northeastern China, where 270,000 Japanese farmers settled. Yet, as Japan's defeat in WW2 neared, the Japanese army retreated, leaving the settlers to be attacked. The Kurokawa settlers turned to the Russian army ーtheir enemy ー for help, offering 15 young, unmarried women as sexual partners in exchange for assistance. The women were forced to service soldiers daily to protect their people. This truth was hidden for years, but in 2013, the women courageously spoke out. Their solidarity inspired the next generation, and their story was recorded as history. This is a requiem for the women of Kurokawa who broke their silence, as well as a story of women reclaiming their dignity.
Click here to preview the program!
2026 Berlin Indie Film Festival - Best Director: Documentary
San Francisco Women Film Festival March 2026 - Semi-finalist
2026 London Film & Television Festival - Finalist
2026 ORION IFF International Film Festival - Finalist: Human Rights Film
2026 London International Filmmakers Festival - Semi-final: Best International Documentary
Chicago Filmmaker Awards April 2026 - Best Documentary Director
In 1932, Japan established the puppet state of Manchukuo in northeastern China, where 270,000 Japanese farmers settled. Yet, as Japan's defeat in WW2 neared, the Japanese army retreated, leaving the settlers to be attacked. The Kurokawa settlers turned to the Russian army ーtheir enemy ー for help, offering 15 young, unmarried women as sexual partners in exchange for assistance. The women were forced to service soldiers daily to protect their people. This truth was hidden for years, but in 2013, the women courageously spoke out. Their solidarity inspired the next generation, and their story was recorded as history. This is a requiem for the women of Kurokawa who broke their silence, as well as a story of women reclaiming their dignity.
Click here to preview the program!
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