9 at 38

Hyungjoon Won, a Juilliard-trained violinist, is closer than ever to realizing his pursuit of the last seven years: a first joint concert by North and South Korea. Due to prohibitions in cross-border movement, musicians from the two sides would straddle the 38th Parallel, the most militarized border in the world. It is where soldiers stand mere feet apart, ready to resume battle at a moment’s notice (the Korean War never officially ended). In the week leading up to the concert, inspired musicians gather from around the world to Seoul to partake in the effort but military aggression, geopolitical paralysis, and apathy threaten to derail a dream that many called crazy to begin with. (Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival)