The American
3rd January 2011, 22:44
The film is about a former U.S. Army soldier, James J. Dresnok, who defected to North Korea on August 15, 1962. The film was directed and produced by British filmmakers Daniel Gordon and Nicholas Bonner, and was shown at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The film, which was narrated by actor Christian Slater, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the festival.
I recently watched this film and it presented the DPRK in a different light than what is normally shown in documentaries about North Korea. Though I hold naught but contempt for Kim Jong Il and his regime, this documentary showed what life is like for James Dresnok and complimented the city of Pyongyang and the medical system in the north quite well. Usually in documentaries you see the streets of Pyongyang deserted except for a rare passing car, and the occasional pedestrian, but this film showed Pyongyang bustling with people and the streets packed with taxicabs, buses, and personal automobiles.
I'm wondering what anyone else, both pro and anti-DPRK thought about this film. Perhaps this is what life really is like in Pyongyang, or maybe it was clever directing on the part of the producers.
After watching this I watched Kimjongililia, and all respect for the regime I had for a fleeting moment was gone :(. Perhaps I am too easily swayed by such movies.
I recently watched this film and it presented the DPRK in a different light than what is normally shown in documentaries about North Korea. Though I hold naught but contempt for Kim Jong Il and his regime, this documentary showed what life is like for James Dresnok and complimented the city of Pyongyang and the medical system in the north quite well. Usually in documentaries you see the streets of Pyongyang deserted except for a rare passing car, and the occasional pedestrian, but this film showed Pyongyang bustling with people and the streets packed with taxicabs, buses, and personal automobiles.
I'm wondering what anyone else, both pro and anti-DPRK thought about this film. Perhaps this is what life really is like in Pyongyang, or maybe it was clever directing on the part of the producers.
After watching this I watched Kimjongililia, and all respect for the regime I had for a fleeting moment was gone :(. Perhaps I am too easily swayed by such movies.