Directed by Jo Seong-hyeon, The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea’s Tragedies is a docuseries consisting of eight episodes dealing with some of South Korea’s most harrowing tragedies. However, this isn’t a tale where we see the entire plot of what went wrong. Instead, we listen to them from the mouths of the survivors. Through this docusries, survivors are given an opportunity to come forward and tell the world their side of the story with no external influence. It is like they say, “straight from the horse's mouth”. Some of the most traumatic incidents that we are shown arethe JMS scandal, the supposed inspiration behind Squid Game’s Brother’s Home, and many others. One thing that I noticed was that although each of these cases is starkly different, what does remain the same in them is the trauma and tragedy that the victims face.
Now, why this docuseries is different from the ones we see regularly is because of its approach. Instead of focusing on the perpetrators, we see the people who were on the receiving end. These are the people who are living their lives post the mishap, rebuilding their lives and trying to forget what had happened. Another thing is how the series is shot. Victims aren’t given any script (or so I felt while watching it). They speak from their hearts, often breaking down while recalling what happened and going silent whenever it gets too difficult to put the pain into words.
The series is naturally very emotional. We get to see what it takes to survive in life, truly. The graphics are there, which are scary too, but what’s even scarier is the fact that these people actually live through the horrors, the horrors you wouldn’t want your worst enemy to live through.
I was very intrigued by the Brothers’ Home after having seen some images and its relation to Squid Games. I don’t know if it really was an inspiration, but that segment was very disturbing as well. The thing is, we cannot say which is more disturbing than the other. Each is disturbing equally, but which one scares you the most is something that makes a difference.
But let's get a few things straight. Like always, I will warm my readers. This show isn’t an easy watch. It can scare and, of course, can make you feel uneasy. As important as it is to listen to survivors' accounts firsthand, it is definitely not an easy task to follow. If you have read the first paragraph carefully, you will know that I mentioned that the show contains some of the most heart-wrenching tragedies of South Korea. And although you might be able to ignore the graphics, it isn’t easy to ignore the voice of the victims who get candid and true about their share of injustice.
When it comes to research, director Jo has done a great job. It isn’t easy for victims to come in front of a camera and retell the sad part of their lives; they are trying hard not to remember. But he not only gave them the space, but he also managed to get them to speak when the camera was rolling. That certainly takes a lot of nerve, and by the time the credits roll out, we are glad that he managed to do what he did.
The pacing of the show doesn’t matter because the show is so well-made, you will forget the fact that you found it boring. You will be intrigued. Beyond the K-pop and K-drama South Korea that most audiences see worldwide, it was refreshing to watch the hidden, other side of the country. So if you are a big fan of true crime thrillers, go for this show.
Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times