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1. The Flower Girl
The best-known North Korean film would have to be The Flower
Girl. Dubbed by the North Koreans themselves as an “immortal classic” along
with 1968’s the Sea of Blood, the film purports to be based on the writings of
the country’s founder Kim Il-sung, and was produced by a young upstart by the
name of Kim Jong-il – North Korea’s late leader and Kim Il-Sung’s son. Kim
Jong-il’s determination to modernise the film industry of North Korea is
reportedly what catapulted the film-obsessed youngster into his father’s
favour, and it led to a lifelong obsession.
Set during the time of Japanese rule in the 1920/30s, The Flower
Girl (1972) follows a young woman and her family as they are mistreated by
their landlord. With an ever-increasing stream of bad luck befalling the
family, the only thing that can save the family (and North Korea) is the deus
ex machina of Kim Il-sung and his communist army who arrive on the
scene in the final 10 minutes to right all the wrongs of society. Life is
tough, the film seems to say, but at least it’s better than when the Japanese
were here. The importance of The Flower Girl within the DPRK cannot be
overestimated. The star, Hong Yong-hee, adorns the one won bank note in North
Korea, and is revered as a national hero. Although not always an easy watch,
those wanting to learn more about the average North Koreans’ sensibilities
could do far worse than to watch this picturesque but tragic film.
2. Hong Kil Dong
The production of The Flower Girl managed to go someway to
modernising North Korean cinema, but it was the the kidnap and imprisonment of
South Korean director Shin Sang-ok that really changed the state of play. He
was forced to make seven films under the guidance of Kim Jong-il north before he and his wife made a daring escape in
1986 (a documentary will soon be
released on the almost unbelievable aspects of his life).
Shin’s output in North Korea was most notable for the Hong
Kong-style kung fu epic Hong Kil Dong. Sometimes called the first North Korean
film made purely for entertainment value, the action centres on the legendary
Robin Hood-type character of Korean folk law, Hong Kil Dong.
Born the illegitimate son of a nobleman, Hong’s jealous
mother-in-law plots to have him killed by a group of bandits as he travels to a
nearby town. Fortuitously saved by a devastatingly deadly kung fu monk who just
so happens to be passing by, the young Hong goes on to train with the monk and
use his newly acquired skills to defend local villagers from oppressive forces.
With heaped spoonfuls ofShaw Brothers-inspired kung fu,
the film is unlike the entire pantheon of North Korean cinema that had gone
before it. This is a film that needs no historical context to be watched and
most unusually for North Korean film, can quite easily be enjoyed.
3. Pulgasari
If The Flower Girl wins the award for the most famous North
Korean film, Pulgasari is easily the most infamous. Under the guidance of the
kidnapped Shin Sang-ok, the Godzilla style epic was filmed partially in Beijing
and featuring technicians from the Toho Studio in Japan (home of the original
Godzilla). Set in medieval times, Pulgasari tells the story of a group of
feudal villagers harshly oppressed by the governor who owns their land.
In a twist reminiscent of the Jewish folktale of the golem, an
old imprisoned blacksmith makes an effigy of a monster, which comes to life and
has an enormous appetite for metal and destruction. Some have drawn parallels
between this and a warning against the dangers of capitalism (here metal equals
money, we can assume) but it’s far easier to get lost in the ridiculousness of
it all.
Kenpachiro Satsuma (one of the original men in a rubber suit who
played Godzilla) stomps his way through a variety of reasonably spectacular set
pieces as the governor tries more and more desperate measures to control the
beast. The film was released commercially in Japan and would sit well in a
midnight movie screening for many ironic film aficionados. After Shin escaped
North Korea, this, like most of his films has virtually disappeared from
screenings within the country.
4. Marathon Runner
Marathon Runner was filmed in 2002 but looks like it was made in
the 1970s. Given the antiquated production techniques and style of clothing,
the film appears to be trapped in a time warp.
Given that it is based on a real event (Jong Song-ok won the
gold medal at the 1999 World Athletics Championships) we can easily identify
this pleasing tale of dedication and devotion to the North Korean way of life.
Jong’s path to the World Championships are littered with
obstacles - injury and excessive pressure from her family mean her dreams of
competing and winning are stacked against her. But unlike other athletes, Jong
seems to be able to take almost supernatural encouragement from Kim Jong-il and
Kim Il-sung. At one point in the film, the camera pans around to display
pictures of the leaders Dear and Great so that Jong and her family can bask in
their eternal love.
In another, upon hearing that the Dear Leader’s convoy is
passing a nearby mountain, Jong manages to run up the peak (discarding the
bandages on her injured leg) just in time to see his car pass by in the
distance. Merely touching the tracks created by his armoured vehicle is the
boost that Jong needs to get her prepared for the championship.
5. Centre Forward
What’s so easy to love about Centre Forward is how it reassures
us that the troubles present in football remain eternal, regardless of country,
time or political system.
There are interfering owners, superstar players who are picked
by reputation alone and fickle fans in this charming story of a up-and-coming
football star who dreams of playing for his local team. It is the least
politically jarring film I’ve ever come across from North Korea. It is also a
reminder of how seriously the beautiful game is taken in North Korea, a country
whose fortunes at the 1966 World Cup in England can be followed in the
excellent documentary The Game of Their Lives.
(via WWW.TheGuardian.com)
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