Private Project

Memories of the Little Pond

Memories of the Little Pond is an exploration of the pain and sorrow experienced by those who lost loved ones and homes during the Korean War. Told from the perspective of a young girl, the film follows her journey through profound loss, as she faces the grief of losing her closest friend and the fading of her childlike imagination in the aftermath of war. The little pond becomes a metaphor, representing the village, the homes, and the very essence of happiness for its people.

  • Yeon Choi
    Director
    A Bride's Diary
  • Goho Yang
    Writer
  • Yeon Choi
    Producer
    A Bride's Diary
  • Yeon Choi
    Animation
  • Anna Teer
    Animation
  • Luna Smith
    Animation
  • Meg Norwood
    Animation
  • Fox Schwach
    Composer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    작은 연못의 추억
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 20, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    9,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Korean
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Yeon Choi

Yeon Choi is an award-winning director, painter, and animator whose work spans multiple mediums, including animation, digital prints, painting, drawing, and sculpture. Her creations have been exhibited in both South Korea and the United States, and her animations have screened at festivals around the world. Select films include A Bride’s Diary, Ever After, The Destroyed Room, Sandstorm, Objects of My Obsessions, The Labyrinth, and Memories of the Little Pond.

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Director Statement

We often think we live in times of uncertainty and anxiety. Especially now, as wars continue around the world, I ask myself: who are these wars truly for, and what can we make of them? Politicians may gain power, arms dealers may grow wealthier, but for most people, war brings only the loss of loved ones—family, friends, neighbors. Survivors are left with memories that haunt them; children are robbed of an innocent childhood. The generations that follow inherit the scars of war—despair, poverty, and fear.

Based on a story by Korean author Goho Yang, Memories of the Little Pond portrays the memories of a young girl in the early days of the Korean War. Her once-vibrant, happy recollections of the little pond—a symbol of her village—are tarnished, overtaken by destruction and sorrow as the war ravages her world.

In revisiting this haunting memory, I suggest viewers reflect deeply on the true cost of war and its enduring impact on those who endure its devastation.