Exploring the Legacy of Ban Ki-moon in The Quiet Diplomat
Left to Right: journalist Addie Morfoot, director Charles Lyons, and producer Susan Lee MacDonald-Lesnik during the post-screening discussion.
The United Nations Association of New York (UNA-NYC) hosted a special installment of its FilmTalk series on September 24, featuring a screening of The Quiet Diplomat, a documentary exploring the life, leadership, and legacy of former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Held at New Plaza Cinema at Macaulay Honors College in Manhattan, the program brought together members and guests for a screening followed by a discussion of Ban Ki-moon's vision of international diplomacy, his commitment to multilateral cooperation, and his enduring legacy at the United Nations.
Directed and produced by Charles Lyons, The Quiet Diplomat offered a revealing portrait of Ban Ki-moon's personal journey and his efforts to advance international cooperation during his two terms as Secretary-General, from 2007 to 2016. The film traced Ban's early experiences as a displaced person during the Korean War, when he and his family received assistance from the United Nations, and explored how that experience helped inspire his lifelong commitment to peace and public service.
The documentary examined Ban's approach to diplomacy in an increasingly divided international environment, highlighting his efforts to advance human rights, women's rights, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and climate action. Through his personal reflections and professional experiences, the film explored the opportunities and challenges of leadership within the UN system and the continuing importance of international collaboration in addressing global problems.
Lyons, who spent several years bringing the documentary to the screen, drew on his experience producing films for the United Nations during Ban's tenure as Secretary-General. The film presented Ban's life as a lens through which to examine the history and mission of the UN, while inviting audiences to reflect on the organization's role in a world facing complex and interconnected challenges.
Following the screening, attendees participated in a question-and-answer discussion with Lyons and producer Susan Lee MacDonald-Lesnik. The conversation was moderated by Addie Morfoot, an entertainment journalist whose work has appeared in Variety, The New York Times Magazine, and other publications.
The discussion explored the making of the documentary, Ban's diplomatic legacy, and the continuing relevance of multilateral institutions at a time when international cooperation faces significant challenges. It also offered an opportunity to consider the human dimensions of diplomacy and the ways in which individual leadership can contribute to broader efforts to promote peace, human rights, and global understanding.
The Quiet Diplomat has been screened at more than 30 film festivals internationally and received several awards, including the Cinema for Peace Award in Berlin and Best Director honors at the Tulum World Environment Film Festival and the Palma Film Festival in Portugal.
The evening underscored the importance of documentary filmmaking as a means of deepening public understanding of international affairs and fostering dialogue about the future of the United Nations. Through its FilmTalk series, UNA-NYC continued its commitment to bringing members and guests together to explore global issues, engage with diverse perspectives, and strengthen appreciation for the role of multilateral cooperation in addressing shared challenges.