(C) Canadian Geographic
In the heart of the lush jungles of Nicaragua, a sight straight out of a fairy tale unfolds: an elderly woman with silken, snow-white hair, dressed in pristine white, traverses the dense emerald canopy on the back of a white horse. To the locals, she is known as the "Princess." But this is no work of fiction or a high-fantasy flick. It is the breathtaking reality captured in the documentary film The Song of the Trees (Namu-ui Norae), directed by Jin Jae-un.
The film introduces us to a protagonist who defies every conventional expectation of old age. More than just a striking figure, she is a descendant of the Joseon Dynasty—Korea’s last royal house—living a life of profound purpose in a land far from her ancestral home. Her mission? To plant one million trees as a way of giving back to the world that, in her words, "has given her so much."
From Manhattan Real Estate to Nicaraguan Jungles
The "Princess’s" life story is an epic of resilience and vision. Decades ago, she arrived in New York City with a mere $44 in her pocket. Through sheer determination, she pursued a career as a scientist, specializing in cell research. She often remarks that studying the microscopic world of cells allowed her to "encounter the universe."
Her path took a dramatic turn when she ventured into the real estate market, eventually acquiring buildings in Manhattan’s Harlem district. However, unlike those who accumulate wealth for its own sake, she viewed capital as a tool for a higher calling. Using the fortune she amassed, she purchased a vast tract of land in Nicaragua—roughly the size of Manhattan—and began her lifelong project of reforestation.
To date, she has planted between 700,000 and 800,000 trees, covering an area seven times the size of Yeouido (Seoul’s primary finance and investment district). It is a real-life manifestation of Jean Giono’s classic The Man Who Planted Trees, proving that one individual’s devotion can indeed transform the Earth’s topography.
A Philosophy of Presence and Beauty
Throughout the film, the protagonist’s voice serves as a philosophical guide. She is frequently seen standing before towering giants of the forest, whispering, "Beautiful!" with genuine wonder. For her, the act of planting is not a chore but a spiritual communion.
"When there is fear, one cannot see the ecstatic beauty of life," she says in the film. Her wisdom strikes a chord with modern audiences trapped in the rat race of competition and regret. "Regretting the past causes life to stop and begin to rot. When we fail to see our true selves, we live only for the sake of public recognition. We lose ourselves in frameworks of ideology, distancing ourselves from nature."
These words resonated deeply with the audience during a recent screening and talk concert featuring Director Jin Jae-un, Professor Hyun Kyung, lyricist Kim Eana, and translator Darcy Paquet. The event, held on a cold winter night, saw a packed house of over 400 people who remained in their seats long after the credits rolled, moved by the "weighty and touching" legacy of the Korean woman who became the mother of a Nicaraguan forest.
Becoming the Tree
The documentary’s ending credits are uniquely poignant, listing the trees and animals as "cast members" alongside the human protagonist. This detail highlights the filmmaker’s intent: to show that humans are not masters of nature, but a part of its harmonious song.
As the screening ended and the first snow of the season began to fall outside the theater, many were reminded of one of the film’s most striking lines: "One must live like stepping onto a street covered in fresh, untouched snow. You find beauty and wonder not by following the footprints of others, but by walking your own path."
In his book The Joy of Gardening, Hermann Hesse wrote, "He who has learned to listen to trees no longer wants to be a tree. He wants to be nothing except who he is." The "White Horse Princess" of Nicaragua is a woman who has found that home within herself. She listens to the trees, and in return, the trees sing her story.
The Song of the Trees is more than a biography; it is a call to awaken. It suggests that those who hear the song will wake up, become "trees" in their own right, and eventually form a forest of love that heals the wounds of the world.
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