Sona, the Other Myself

Showing at the Hot Docs Film Festival: Sona, the Other Myself, directed by Yang Yonghi

Synopsis from the Hot Docs website:

Yang Yonghi’s Dear Pyongyang deeply moved audiences at Hot Docs three years ago, but eventually led to the filmmaker being banned from North Korea for reasons that remain unclear. Yang returns to the Festival with Sona, The Other Myself, another tender, bittersweet story from her father’s ideological homeland. Here Yang compiles a touching portrait of her niece, Sona, from footage shot over a 15-year period prior to Yang being denied entrance to visit her North Korean brothers. Through Sona, the film offers a glimpse into the lives of the generation that migrated from Japan to North Korea and their offspring who were born and raised in North Korea. Sona’s upbringing is quite typical of a North Korean child’s, but the special situation of her immigrant family—so closely connected to and supported by her Japanese relatives—makes its presence known in subtle ways. A simple story, honestly and intuitively told. Sean Farnel.

Kimjongilia

Opening this weekend at Cinema Village in New York: Kimjongilia, directed by N.C. Heikin

Synopsis from the film's website:

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 a people whose every action is monitored and whose every thought could bring official retribution. Along with the survivors’ stories, Kimjongilia examines the mass illusion possible under totalitarianism and the human rights abuses required to maintain that illusion. Ultimately, the defectors are inspiring, for despite the extremes they have suffered, they still hold out hope for a better future.