By Honorary Reporter Dominika Jankowska from Poland
Photos = Dominika Jankowska & Urszula Stachowiak

White butterfly, red gomusin (traditional shoes), and a little girl riding on a blue fish. 

These things might seem random but they are among the main symbols from the nonverbal puppet show "Dallae's Story." The plot is about a girl named Dallae and her family whose lives are disrupted by the Korean War (1950-53). 

Rather than focus on the conflict, the work portrays the family's efforts to overcome wartime hardships in a fairytale-like fantasy.

"Dallae's Story" was produced and performed by Hwangsae, a club for Korean-language majors at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland. 

I saw this play on Nov. 30 in my introduction to Korean theater after receiving an invitation from Hwangsae AMU Club in cooperation with the Korean Culture Center in Warsaw and AMU Welcome Center in Poznan.

Hwangsae is a group of Korean-language majors at Adam Mickiewicz University that strives to promote Korean culture through projects and cultural events like "Filmowe Oblicza Korei" (Cinematic Colors of Korea).

Hwangsae President Oliwia Kuna (third from left) and Vice President Patrycja Dekiert (third from right) pose for a photo with other group members.

"The series 'Filmowe Oblicza Korei' was created to bring together domestic enthusiasts of Korean cinematography," Hwangsae Vice President Patrycja Dekiert said. "Before the screening, we usually have a short introduction so our audience can enjoy not only the movie but also learn more about Korean history, tradition and mentality. 

Group leader Oliwia Kuna added, "After each screening, we hold a discussion with the audience on their evaluations of the work and what they consider the most intriguing scenes. It often sparks incredibly interesting interactions." 

In the past, the club has screened famous Korean films like "The Handmaiden" and the Oscar-winning "Parasite." This time, however, Hwangsae decided to try something new.

Kuna said, "While launching the series, we aim to present various film genres to the audience, not limiting ourselves to thrillers or dramas."

Despite the lack of spoken dialogue, the play effectively conveyed the characters' emotions and the plot through amazing mime acting, appropriate music and sound effects. The combination of these factors allowed the puppets, which have no facial expressions, to display emotions. 

"Dallae's Story" is a nonverbal puppet show performed on Nov. 30 by Hwangsae, a Korean-language club at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland.

The cast effectively conveyed the emotions of the characters despite not saying a single word throughout the play. At first, I thought the acting might come across as cartoonish but every actor seemed to have found the perfect acting balance.

The play also apparently focused on form rather than the plot. Its symbolism was shown in examples like a butterfly serving as the messenger of love between Dallae's parents, traditional music and folklore when the mother dances with the traditional red shoes, and fairytale-like scenes like Dallae riding a blue fish.

"It was a truly engaging experience," Kuna said, "deepening our understanding of the cinematic possibilities and the artistic finesse demonstrated in such performances even with no dialogue."

jihlee08@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.