kimjongilia (2009)

in keeping with recent posts, i recently watched super depressing movie kimjongilia, which tells the firsthand narratives of several north korean defectors/escapees. as perversely strange a day in the life showed north korea to be sunshine and gumdrops, the stories in kimjongilia show a disturbingly different point of view. modern day labor camps, public executions, sex trafficking, political incompetence...it's hard to decide how to be most depressed. and yet, even after their terrible experiences, the escapees are somehow left with a sense of hope, and despite my strong proclivity toward cynicism, i want to believe with them.

as a side note, the cinematography and graphic elements were quite nice as well, especially the propaganda elements in the opening bit.