Kimjongilia
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
N.c. Heikin
Kim Cheol-woong
Lee Shin
Shin Dong-hyuk
Mrs. Kim
Kang Chol-hwan
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
North Korea is one of the world's most isolated nations. For sixty years, North Koreans have been governed by a totalitarian regime that controls all information entering and leaving the country. A cult of personality surrounds its two recent leaders: first, Kim Il Sung, and now his son, Kim Jong Il. For Kim Jong Il's 46th birthday, a hybrid red begonia named Kimjongilia was created, symbolizing wisdom, love, justice, and peace. The film draws its name from the rarefied flower and reveals the extraordinary stories told by survivors of North Korea's vast prison camps, of devastating famine, and of every kind of repression. All of the interviews featured took place in South Korea, where the defectors now live. Their experiences are interspersed with archival footage of North Korean propaganda films and original scenes that illuminate the contours of daily life for people whose every action is monitored and whose every thought could bring official retribution.
Director
N.c. Heikin
Cast
Kim Cheol-woong
Lee Shin
Shin Dong-hyuk
Mrs. Kim
Kang Chol-hwan
Byeon Ok-soon
Crew
Peterson Almeida
Kate Amend
Kim Cheol-woong
Young-sun Cho
Kang Chol-hwan
Shin Dong-hyuk
James Egan
Mike Figgis
Michael Gordon
N.c. Heikin
N.c. Heikin
Ellen Kesend
Mrs. Kim
Su Kim
Mary Lampson
David Novack
Byeon Ok-soon
Robert Pepin
Kenny Saylors
Kyle Saylors
Kyle Saylors
Kyle Saylors
Lee Shin
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 2009
Released in United States February 2010
Released in United States October 2009
Released in United States Spring March 19, 2010
Shown at Pusan International Film Festival (Wide Angle Documentary Showcase) October 8-16, 2009.
Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival (Feature Documentary Competition) April 23-May 7, 2009.
Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Special Presentation) February 4-14, 2010.
Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (Documentary Competition/Documentary Films) May 21-June 14, 2009.
Released in United States 2009 (Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival (Feature Documentary Competition) April 23-May 7, 2009.)
Released in United States 2009 (Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (Documentary Competition/Documentary Films) May 21-June 14, 2009.)
Released in United States February 2010 (Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Special Presentation) February 4-14, 2010.)
Released in United States Spring March 19, 2010 (New York)
Released in United States October 2009 (Shown at Pusan International Film Festival (Wide Angle Documentary Showcase) October 8-16, 2009.)
