Few countries have garnered as much criticism and as much controversy as North Korea. Tales abound of families split apart by the border between North and South Korea, as well as narratives of those who attempt to flee the northern region to the southern. As a result, we have also seen a remarkable number of documentaries in the last decade highlighting the various issues raised by this most fascinating yet enigmatic of countries.
“The Juche Idea”
Combining the strangeness and revolutionary appeal of avant-garde cinema with a keen eye for the documentary, “The Juche Idea” probes the philosophy of juche–a combination of Confucianism and socialism–utilized by the North Korean government in its numerous propaganda efforts. In the process, we learn about what makes the North Korean government tick and how it uses film in its socialist goals. Be warned, however, that this is a very strange (almost bizarre) style of documentary filmmaking. At the same time, however, the film uses those very bizarre methods to put the ideas of the North Korean government on trial and to expose their contradictions and problems.
“Kimjongilia”
Whereas “The Juche Idea” uses playfulness to expose the contradictions of North Korea, “Kimjongilia” takes a no-holds-barred approach to its topic, ruthlessly exposing the cruelty, repressions, and totalitarianism that characterize this isolated Communist nation. Featuring often heart-rending interviews with defectors, this documentary ruthlessly deconstructs the cult of personality that currently surrounds the leaders of this most isolated of nations. You will definitely gain a more thorough (perhaps too thorough) knowledge of what makes this country tick and the struggles that its people face under its repressive government.
“Crossing the Line”
On the flip side of the issue, “Crossing the Line” explores the life of James Dresnok, an American soldier who, in a rare move, actually defected to North Korea, abandoning everything about his prior way of life. The film pays particular attention to Dresnok’s childhood and his growing dissatisfaction with his own country, as well as to the cultural milieu of North Korea and his attempts to live in a country on hostile terms with the U.S. It is an enlightening and thought-provoking portrait of a man determined to live his own life despite having abandoned everything and everyone with whom he was familiar.
Clearly, North Korea casts a long shadow in the cultural sphere, in large part because it remains so insular and isolated from the rest of the world. As relations with this country continue to change and evolve, these documentaries will provide valuable historical evidence of the relationships between North Korea and the rest of the world.