State propaganda and cinema are inseparable in North Korea, with former leader Kim Jong Il calling film a “powerful ideological weapon for the revolution.” More often than not, this philosophy produces dry, didactic movies that receive little attention outside the country.
And yet, a handful of North Korean films display real technical competence and a clear passion for moviemaking; these works of state-produced entertainment are actually entertaining and even occasionally moving.
State propaganda and cinema are inseparable in North Korea, with former leader Kim Jong Il calling film a “powerful ideological weapon for the revolution.” More often than not, this philosophy produces dry, didactic movies that receive little attention outside the country.
And yet, a handful of North Korean films display real technical competence and a clear passion for moviemaking; these works of state-produced entertainment are actually entertaining and even occasionally moving.
Oliver Jia is Social Media Editor at NK News and a Kyoto-based graduate student currently pursuing his PhD in international relations at Ritsumeikan University. His research focuses on Japan-DPRK relations and comparative foreign policy. Follow him on Twitter @OliverJia1014
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