Smoke Trail (2022)

Synopsis

An old man on his deathbed is waiting for his last moment in hospital quarters, accompanied by the nursing robot. The old man is reminiscent of his previous life as a pilot, and the robot learns to sympathize with the old man’s long forgotten passion. The robot comforts the old man in his final moment as they watch the sky align with airplanes.

Artist Statement

The film embarks with an old man on his deathbed, a depiction of cruelty as he is left alone from any family or friend’s care. Beside him is a lifeless caretaker robot that mandates the rules and protocol as he was programmed to do so. As the two stay close together, the robot develops the capability to feel empathy, and understand the dying man’s last wish. The film juxtaposes the cruelty and lack of empathy found in people of modern society, against an inhuman machine developing humanity and learning to feel respect and empathy to those in need.

I grew up in South Korea, a country still at war and with family members who are still scarred from the warfare. However, on the flipside, because I was raised in a country still split into two from war, I have always had immense respect for those who have served, people who risked their lives for others. This ironic thought of disdain and admiration of humanity was the driving motif of my film, Smoke Trail. With this film, I hoped to express my belief that our actions define who we are.

Project Stills

Concept Arts