North Korea - A Day In The Life

As an interested observer into the workings of this isolated State i found this film intriguing and offered a portrait of life in North Korea that is seldom seen.

The film is clearly filmed with the permission of the North Korean authorities so therefore the lives that the film portrays should be viewed in that context. However the extras with the Director and news pieces from Holland certainly add balance to the overall work.

The screening of the piece back in Pyongyang is probably the most realistic and spontaneous piece of the film, but again shows that the bosses, Workers Party members are in control, as only they speak and direct criticsm while the factory workers sit in silence

This was a very interesting film. To a large extent this doesn't reflect daily life in North Korea for most people - I'm sure every location, shot and scene were checked and verified by the regime. It shows life as the goverment wants us to see it. The extras are very informative - the director tells us how the project came about, what he was and wasn't allowed to film and how he wanted the film to challenge our perception of North Korea.

The most interesting scene for me was the screening of the finished film back in Pyongyang. The staff's reaction to the film and the bosses comments were very revealing. These feel like the most spontaneous, unscripted moments.

The director wanted to make a more positive portrayal than we see in the news. I don't think it does. The final image of a female soldier jumping up and down, screaming her devotion to Kim Jong-Il sticks in the mind. We see agony, devotion but most of all fear.

Nicely filmed on Super 16mm or maybe 35mm. Well graded and they spent some money on the dub (bit heavy on the footsteps IMHO) Obviously, editorialy, very tightly controlled by the DPRK authorities. The director does allude to this in the interesting Extras section.

All in all, its a piece of propaganda. The director did a good job given the constraints.. Its interesting trying to read the inscrutable faces of the workers in the factory. Particularly during the lessons on their Great Leaders fondness for wearing wet sneakers instead of nice warm boots...

It successfully portrays Pyongyangs upper echelons of society (within the working classes as opposed to the rulng classes) But not a glimpse of the poverty, famine, AIDS, Concentration camps, Heroin processesiing or other less appetising aspects of DPRK life. There are better documentarys out there.

N Korea is a living hell. Make no mistake. Millions are dying from malnitrition. they have had several massive crop failures and are enduring pretty serious trade embargos. 100s of 1000s are suffering as prisoners of conscience in death camps that make Hitlers look like kindergarten.

They have been ruled for several generations now by crooked, warped despots. Kim Jong Il is famed for his insatiable appetite for fresh lobster, Krug champagne (vintage only please!) and Swedish hookers.

look elswhere for a realistic portrayal of life in the last hermit state. (outside of the US that is)

These poor people are living on borrowed time, the sooner GW Bush and KJI are deposed the better their chances are ging to get.

A curious, yet enlightening, chance to follow the members of a North Korean family for a day.

See the mother's factory work, where the day starts with Kim Jong-il worship, or the son's school day, where the curriculum includes stories about Kim Jong-il's humility. Perhaps you'll notice how strange it is that other members of the family are having English (engrish?) lessons.

This film aims to document without comment, and although it at times does drag, it does offer the chance to glimpse a very different world.