''If You Were Me'' is a 2003 South Korean omnibus film, comprising six

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

s directed by six prominent Korean directors, including

Park Chan-wook Park Chan-wook ( ; born 23 August 1963) is a South Korean film director, screenwriter, producer, and former film critic. He is considered as one of the most prominent filmmakers of South Korean cinema as well as world cinema in 21st century. ...

. Commissioned by the

National Human Rights Commission of Korea The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (abbreviated to NHRCK) () is the independent commission for protecting, advocating and promoting human rights. This commission, by law, is guaranteed the independent status regarding all human rights ...

for () each, the shorts deal with discrimination in Korea and the directors were given free rein with regards to subject and style. The film has spawned three live-action sequels, as well as two animated films, which deal with similar themes.

Plot

* "Crossing" - A disabled man on crutches hobbling along the streets of

Sejongno Sejongno (), also known as Sejong-daero, is a street that runs through Jongno-gu in downtown Seoul. It is named after King Sejong the Great of Joseon. The street is 600 meters in length, but due to its central location it is of great symbolic ...

, downtown Seoul. On

paralytic Paralysis (also known as plegia) is a loss of motor function in one or more muscles. Paralysis can also be accompanied by a loss of feeling (sensory loss) in the affected area if there is sensory damage. In the United States, roughly 1 in 50 ...

actor Kim Moon-joo and disabled theatre group ''Hwol''. Directed by Yeo Kyun-dong. * "The Man with an Affair" - A former sex criminal has been cut off by his neighbors. Raises questions about the human rights of

sex offender A sex offender (sexual offender, sex abuser, or sexual abuser) is a person who has committed a sex crime. What constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and legal jurisdiction. The majority of convicted sex offenders have convictions for crim ...

s. Directed by

Jeong Jae-eun Jeong Jae-eun (; born March 26, 1969) is a South Korean film director. Career Jeong Jae-eun attended and was one of the first graduates of the School of Film, TV and Multimedia of the Korea National University of Arts. Early in her career she ...

. * "The Weight of Her" - A high school student must struggle to secure a job because of her undesirable appearance. Discusses discrimination against women. Directed by

Yim Soon-rye Yim Soon-rye (born January 1, 1961) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. She is considered one of the few leading female auteurs of Korean New Wave cinema. Career Education Born in 1961 in Incheon, Yim Soon-rye graduated from Han ...

. * "Face Value" - Depicts work settings where job applicants are evaluated by their physical appearance in looks-obsessed Korean society. Directed by

Park Kwang-su Park Kwang-su (born January 22, 1955) is a South Korean filmmaker. He was born in Sokcho, Gangwon Province and grew up in Busan. Park joined the Yallasung Film Group as a student of Fine Arts at Seoul National University. Upon graduation, he fo ...

. * "Tongue Tied" - Korean parents' extreme fervor for education is exposed as a child undergoes a tongue operation to enhance his ability in spoken English. Directed by

Park Jin-pyo Park Jin-pyo (born 1966) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He directed ''Too Young to Die'' (2002), ''You Are My Sunshine'' (2005), '' Voice of a Murderer'' (2007), '' Closer to Heaven'' (2009), and '' Love Forecast'' (2015). Car ...

. * "N.E.P.A.L.: Never Ending Peace and Love" - A

Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...

ese woman named Chandra spends six years in a mental hospital after she was mistaken for a Korean who had lost her mind. Addresses the human rights of foreign laborers in Korea. Directed by

Cast

* Yeo Kyun-dong *

* Lee Ji-hyun as Nurse * Kim Dae-gon as Physical education teacher

Film series

There were five subsequent films in the series: * ''If You Were Me 2'' (2006) * ''If You Were Me 3'' (2006) * ''If You Were Me 4'' (2009) * ''If You Were Me 5'' (2011) * ''If You Were Me 6'' (2013)

References

External links

* * 2003 films 2003 drama films South Korean independent films South Korean drama films South Korean anthology films Films directed by Jeong Jae-eun Films directed by Yim Soon-rye Films directed by Park Jin-pyo Films directed by Park Chan-wook 2000s Korean-language films Films directed by Yeo Kyun-dong 2000s South Korean films {{SouthKorea-film-stub