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North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had a profound interest in leveraging cinema for propaganda, culminating in his book On the Art of The Cinema. In this work, he outlined his strategy of using films as a medium to educate and instill his ideologies in the populace. To achieve his vision of producing high-quality films, he reportedly commanded his intelligence agency to abduct skilled directors, actors, and artists from South Korea, compelling them to bring his cinematic concepts to fruition.
Although the storylines of these films differ widely, they all serve as propaganda tools aimed at reinforcing the public's faith in their Great Leader and the societal values they are mandated to uphold.
10. Pulgasari
Shin Sang-Ok, a renowned South Korean filmmaker, was among those abducted and coerced into directing a North Korean version of the Japanese classic Godzilla, titled Pulgasari.
Set in feudal Korea, the film depicts wealthy nobles plundering a farming community and imprisoning a guiltless elderly blacksmith. His children sneak rice to him through the prison bars. Rather than consuming it, the blacksmith shapes the rice with his daughter’s blood, crafting a small figurine of a monster. As he breathes his last, he pleads with the gods to infuse his spirit into the creature to liberate the villagers from the oppressive monarchy.
The figurine, named Pulgasari, springs to life and sustains itself by devouring iron. The more metal it ingests, the larger and more powerful it becomes, eventually rendering it invincible. With Pulgasari’s aid, the farmers overthrow the nobility’s tyranny. By the film’s conclusion, Pulgasari grows to an enormous size. While the villagers cherish the monster for their freedom, its insatiable hunger for iron poses a grave threat.
The blacksmith’s daughter recognizes that Pulgasari’s relentless consumption of iron will lead to famine and conflict. To protect her nation, she sacrifices herself, ending her life to send Pulgasari back to the spirit world. This serves as an allegory warning against the perils of capitalism, urging North Koreans to resist its influence, even at the cost of their lives.
9. The Favorite Young Man
The protagonist, Kim Yong Bae, is a charming, intelligent, and skilled army veteran. Despite his many talents, he finds contentment in his modest role as a plumber. He reunites with Son Ae, a compassionate and beautiful tailor, and the two fall in love. However, Son Ae’s family disapproves, believing she deserves someone of higher status than a plumber.
Son Ae insists that his occupation is irrelevant to her, as she values him for his character. Over time, her family is also charmed by Kim Yong Bae’s admirable personality. By the film’s conclusion, everyone who once belittled his work as a plumber has a change of heart. His heroism is further highlighted when he rescues the town from a disastrous pipe burst.
In North Korea’s communist system, capitalism and personal wealth are prohibited. The government emphasizes the importance of hard work and contentment with assigned roles, particularly for the working class. Throughout the film, Kim Yong Bae addresses the audience directly, emphasizing the critical role plumbers play in providing clean water. The camera zooms in dramatically, almost breaking the fourth wall, as if reprimanding viewers who undervalue blue-collar jobs. While the film is framed as a romantic comedy, its primary focus is on delivering a moral lesson to North Korean citizens about the dignity of labor.
8. My Socialist Country
This English-narrated documentary aims to inform international audiences about life in North Korea. It asserts that North Koreans enjoy an abundance of necessities, including food, clothing, housing, healthcare, employment, 150 days of maternity leave, and free higher education. Remarkably, the film claims that the government funds all these services without imposing taxes on its citizens. My Socialist Country portrays North Korea as a flawless communist utopia, isolated from global influences and deserving of worldwide admiration.
Without prior knowledge of the actual circumstances, viewers of this film might be persuaded that North Korea is an idyllic paradise.
7. Eternal Comrades
In 1946, an assassination attempt was made on Kim Il Sung by a terrorist group. Yakov Nevichenko, a Soviet officer, spotted the grenade and heroically shielded Kim Il Sung by throwing himself on it. Miraculously, Nevichenko survived because he had a large book strapped to his chest, acting as makeshift armor. Although he lost an arm and suffered severe injuries, his bravery earned him the title of North Korean National Hero, and a statue was erected in his honor.
Eternal Comrades dramatizes the events of that day and highlights the bond formed between the Soviet Union and North Korea. The film aims to convey to North Korean audiences that their Great Leader is worth the ultimate sacrifice, even inspiring foreigners to risk their lives for him. Following this incident, the name “Yakov” gained popularity as a baby name in North Korea.
6. Soul’s Protest
Released just three years after the global success of Titanic, Soul’s Protest seeks to emulate its box office triumph. The film recounts the true story of the Ukishima Maru shipwreck in 1945, which carried Korean passengers returning from forced labor camps in Japan.
Historical records state that the ship exploded after striking a concealed landmine in the ocean, resulting in the deaths of 524 Koreans. The Japanese government refused to compensate the survivors, insisting the incident was an unavoidable accident. However, North Koreans have investigated the case, accusing the Japanese of deliberately sinking the ship. Although this theory was debunked in court, the film portrays it as fact, suggesting the Japanese aimed to erase evidence of their use of Koreans for forced labor by eliminating them at sea.
While the movie draws inspiration from real events, its primary purpose is to fuel animosity toward the Japanese, who, alongside Americans, are depicted as North Korea’s greatest adversaries. The director, cast, and crew were mandated to watch Titanic more than 100 times to prepare for the film. The movie includes numerous subtle nods to Titanic, with scenes resembling dramatic reenactments. However, instead of passionate romantic moments, the lovers in Soul’s Protest exchange polite smiles, reflecting a more reserved portrayal of affection.
5. The Flower Girl
Adapted from an opera and novel, The Flower Girl portrays the struggles of Koreans under Japanese rule in the 1930s. The protagonist is a young girl who spends her days climbing mountains to gather flowers for sale in the market. Her family faces immense hardship: her mother is gravely ill, her younger sister is blind, her father has passed away, and her brother is away fighting as a revolutionary. Despite her mother’s poor health, the landlord shows no mercy, threatening to evict them if they fail to pay rent.
Despite her relentless efforts, the young woman cannot afford the medicine needed to save her mother, who eventually dies from her illness. Her blind sister is overwhelmed with grief, and the landlord, annoyed by her crying, accuses her of being possessed by her mother’s spirit and demands her death to “expel the demon.” Left homeless, the flower girl endures further suffering throughout the film. Her brother returns from the war, and Korea achieves independence from Japan.
The film aims to illustrate to North Koreans the harsh realities of life before communism, contrasting it with the current system where healthcare and housing are provided free of charge. Regarded as the most iconic and impactful North Korean propaganda film, it stands out for its exceptional acting and its ability to evoke deep emotions in viewers, regardless of their nationality.
4. O Youth!
This film portrays a North Korean family with five daughters, all of whom are professional athletes, and one son. The son, a historian pursuing his PhD, still lives with his parents. As he approaches 30 and remains unmarried, his mother grows increasingly anxious about his marital prospects. He meets a woman in the library, assuming she is studious and reserved, only to discover she is a skilled Taekwondo fighter.
The movie highlights the sports complex in Pyongyang, constructed under Kim Jong Il’s directive. The characters frequently praise their Great Leader, emphasizing his support for young athletic talent. Inspired by this, the son and his mother develop a newfound appreciation for sports.
In one scene, the couple faces harassment from a group of men, and the girlfriend uses her Taekwondo skills to defend them. After her athletic prowess is revealed, the son asks her to review his PhD thesis on the History of Taekwondo. She advises him to give greater recognition to the Great Leader, crediting him for the sport’s development and success.
3. Under The Sun
This 2015 documentary, directed by Russian filmmaker Vitaly Mansky, began as an exploration of life in North Korea. After years of negotiations, the North Korean government granted him access—but only under strict conditions, requiring him to film exactly what they dictated. Mansky soon realized that every aspect of the lives he was documenting was staged, and the government intended to use his work as propaganda. However, Mansky subverted their plan by keeping the camera running continuously, including outtakes in the final edit to reveal the orchestrated nature of North Korean life and the treatment of its people.
In one sequence, Mansky is taken to a factory. The facility appears largely empty, with only a few rooms equipped with machinery. The supposed workers are actually actors, hired to portray factory employees and deliver scripted lines about improving production and celebrating their achievements. Between takes, the actors bundle up in jackets, exposing the factory’s lack of heating even during winter.
Unsurprisingly, the North Korean government banned the film, displeased with its candid portrayal. Despite this, Under The Sun has garnered numerous international awards for its revealing insights.
2. Order No. 27
North Korean soldiers embark on a covert mission, fully aware of its perilous nature, yet they embrace the chance to honor the Great Leader with unwavering dedication.
The film unfolds as if it were a parody, yet it maintains a grave tone. Each combat scene resembles a sequence from Mortal Kombat, with North Korean soldiers displaying almost superhuman prowess. To Western audiences, Order No. 27 is both absurd and somewhat poignant.
This movie might have been created to inspire North Koreans, who undergo mandatory military training, with the prospect of real combat. Alternatively, Kim Jong Il may have intended for the film to convince other nations that every North Korean soldier is a martial arts expert.
By the film's conclusion, the soldiers achieve their mission, though not without losing some comrades. In contrast to typical American war films, the men, including their leaders, openly mourn their fallen brothers. The movie closes with the poignant statement, 'A soldier’s sacrifice for the Great Leader and the Communist Party ensures their memory lives forever in the hearts of our people.'
1. Welcome To North Korea
Produced in the 1980s, this English-narrated video aimed to attract international tourists to North Korea. It portrays a nation of prosperity, showcasing towering structures, elegant attire, and abundant food. Visitors are treated to acrobatic performances, souvenir shops, historical landmarks, and scenic beaches. The video paints North Korea as an ideal destination, suggesting that any negative claims about the country are unfounded.
Modern tours in North Korea follow a similar pattern, now featuring updated attractions such as water parks and tech centers. Tourists are constantly accompanied and must demonstrate reverence for The Great Leader. For a glimpse into what visitors experience today, filmmaker Louis Cole captured his journey in North Korea on his YouTube channel, FunForLouis.
