Under the Sun

Well, this time the censors and overseers of the dear leader of North Korea did not please him at all. It is evident that some of the shots and intertitles were added later, but it is still a disgraceful failure, and I would not be surprised if it had a very unfavorable outcome for some Korean officials. It was supposed to be another propaganda triumph of the regime, but Vitalij Manskyj conceived the film as an indictment of dictatorship, which is a bizarre combination of oriental despotism and 20th-century leftist totalitarianism. You don't have to be able to read between the lines and decipher the cryptic messages to feel very uncomfortable and calculate for yourself what life in North Korea is actually like from what you see. Manskij places the shots in such a way as to constantly create a sarcastic impression, remove the pompous facade, and reveal the repulsive essence of the system. You can laugh at what he shows you, but for the most part, it will probably make you sad. Alongside great scenes, such as a subway ride or a showcase of arranged "workplaces" of both parents, the film features a number of places that drag on uncomfortably or repeat motifs that have already been used. Therefore, in the end, I lean toward a mere 3 stars and an overall impression of 65%. (09/03/2017)

Even in North Korea, under the regime's watch, it is possible to make a documentary that is honest enough. All you have to do is have a little courage, not be afraid to have the camera on, and hope that the North Koreans have no idea what editing can do when you know to handle a camera. It’s an interesting insight into a country where you know full well that things are not right with the people. (10/03/2017)

More acutely than any other film, this documentary shows the grief and aridness of the spirit of a person growing up in North Korea. It succeeds in showing not just the precisely composed images of the streets of Pyongyang, but also, through a more intimate lens, a glimpse into the souls of people who mechanically walk those streets every day. It manages to reveal the reasons for the peculiar setting of their darkened minds. A long close-up of the little girl’s face, wiping her tears and not understanding what the director wants from her when he tells her to remember something nice and cheerful and smile, says it all. The little girl begins to recite a poem about the wonderful Dear Leader. Communism is a plague of the human spirit. (03/15/2016)