Educational Media Reviews Online

Many investigations into the current state of North Korea use a voyeuristic lens to imply the grimness underlying daily life. The isolated nature of the country and the erratic behavior of its leader lends itself to this approach. Kimjongilia, on the other hand, focuses directly on exposing grievous human rights violations being inflicted by the North Korean government on its citizens.

The film centers on interviews with seven North Korean defectors, now living in mainland China, South Korea and other locations across Asia. The backgrounds and stories of the defectors are incredibly diverse and show that abuses by the government aren't limited to specific groups or social classes. Interviewees include a young man born in a prison camp, a former captain of the North Korean army and a young woman who nearly died during the Great Famine. Most of those interviewed stated that escaping the country was necessary for their survival. The emotion and anger in these interviews is powerful and conveys the totality of the devastation felt by the survivors. One woman interviewed, a former dancer, was sent to Yodok prison camp along with her parent and four children. While in the camp her parents and two sons died, another son was beaten to the point of severe brain damage, her daughter had to be given up for adoption and she never knew what became of her husband. Crying, she states "I'm so filled with hatred and anger...how can anyone praise Kim Jong-il? I'm filled with hatred for North Korea. They murdered my family."

Kimjongilia combines the defector's personal stories with a historical overview of the impact WWII and the Korean War had on the region. While the focus is primarily on those affected by wide spread famine and prison camps, there is also some coverage of failed international efforts of provide aid to North Korea, as well as China's controversial policy to repatriate North Korean defectors who flee to China. The film also thoughtfully examines how the imposed god-like status of Kim II-Sung and Kim Jong-il allows the country to continue functioning as a totalitarian state.

The direct, first person interviews make Kimjongilia an outstanding resource for students of human rights studies, counseling & therapy and psychology. The film is also appropriate for programs in Asian studies, political science and international studies.