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First Person Plural
A universal story of a Korean American adoptee
Deann
Borshay Liem's First Person Plural is a penetrating exploration of the
interactions between identity, superpower dominance, and family. An autobiographical
film, First Person follows Liem's adoption as a Korean child through a
search, provoked by the unexpected emergence of memories in adulthood,
for her biological mother.
Adoptive Politics
The search reveals how international politics and necessity are entwined in her history, resulting in the creation of a generation of Korean American adoptees. An adoption industry arose after the Korean War as a means to bring funds into a ravaged country. Cold war culture led many US families to adopt Korean child to "save" them by bringing here. In many cases, as in Liem's case, children were adopted under false identities and with living parents remaining in Korea.
Search through Loss and Paradox
None of this lessens the moving personal loss and paradox that Liem must face as she peels away the secrets of her life. Liem was adopted into a very traditional but loving family. Part of the film's power is its penetrating insights about the heart of mainstream America seen through Liem's own adoptive family members. Liem realizes she is someone whose identity has always been created by others.
The second part of the film revolves around the discovery of her biological family, and her attempt to bring together her multiple worlds. Her adoptive family travels with her back to Korea and meets her biological mother, a mother that initially they refused to imagine existed. There, through a series of heart-rending scenes, Liem must grope toward a reimagination and reconstruction of relationships.
While profoundly personal, this film's intelligence and honesty says a lot about US society and a segment of the Asian American community, which will grow in prominence. In the local showing, there were many attendees from families with adopted children from China. As an Asian American activist, I see their experiences, while unique, has many elements in common with those of other Asian Americans. I can only hope that the past and new generations of adoptees will act to penetrate the social veil as Liem has. This film is distributed by NAATA and will be shown on PBS.
The filmaker Deann Borshay with brother in law Ramsay Liem at
Boston Museum of Fine Arts showing
