Author Archives: dprkfilms

Kim Jong-il: On the Art of Cinema

Posted on April 1, 2013

A little light reading for a Monday… Here are a few of my favourite quotes as I (not for the first time) flick through Kim Jong-il’s seminal tome on how to make a film (in North Korea). “A film without … Continue reading →

Posted in Kim Jong-il, North Korea Books, North Korean Films | Leave a comment

North Korean Vinyl: Can Anyone Help Identify the Movies? (Updated)

Posted on March 8, 2013

I really love it when people contact me through the site asking for help, and I love it even more when I can prove helpful. Recently a gentlemen sent me images of vinyl record he has of North Korean cinema … Continue reading →

Posted in The Undying Soldier, Yong Su and Yong Ok in the Socialist Homeland | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Mother Lode: It’s been a while

Posted on March 7, 2013

It seems North Korea is hitting the headlines again today. Questions about whether Kim Jong-un is a film fan seem to be answered by his apparent want to turn 1980s classic “WarGames” into a reality and yet this blog has remained … Continue reading →

Posted in DVD, Kim Jong-un | 17 Comments

Documentary: Kim Jong-Il and Stars (Part 1)

Posted on November 30, 2012

I know I promised the mother-lode  but I’m afraid it’s just going to have to be another taste. Here’s the first part (there are three in total) of a DPRK documentary about Kim Jong-Il’s efforts as a producer in North Korea. … Continue reading →

Posted in Documentary, Kim Jong-il, North Korea, North Korean Films | 2 Comments

Taedongmun Cinema House

Posted on November 12, 2012

I discovered the mother-lode of North Korean films. More on that later. For now, here’s a documentary – in English – on the cinema in the middle of Pyongyang. So happy to have tracked this down.

Posted in Cinema, Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-il, Pyongyang, Taedongmun Cinema, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Book Review: North Korean Cinema: A History

Posted on October 31, 2012

This has been a long time coming. It’s coming up to two years that I’ve been intermittently running this site. And before that it was a a good year or two that I was talking about writing “something” about North Korean cinema. … Continue reading →

Posted in Co-production, Kim Jong-il, North Korea Books, Pyongyang International Film Festival, Shin Sang-ok, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

13th Pyongyang International Film Festival opens

Posted on September 21, 2012

I dug out some footage from Chinese broadcaster CCTV of the Pyongyang International Film Festival that is going on at the moment. I am sick as a dog not to be there – alas my application to enter a film … Continue reading →

Posted in North Korea, North Korean Films, Pyongyang International Film Festival | Leave a comment

Johannes Schönherr interviews Somi – the Taekwon-do Woman producer

Posted on September 4, 2012

Johannes Schönherr dropped me a line the other day to highlight an interview he conducted with Masao Kobayashi, the producer of Somi – the Taekwon-do Woman. Always good to hear from the man as he highlights another little insight into making movies … Continue reading →

Posted in Johannes Schönherr, North Korea, North Korean Films, Somi – the Taekwon-do Woman | Leave a comment

Comrade Kim Goes Flying to premiere at PIFF

Posted on August 24, 2012

Koryo Tours gets a lot of mentions here on the site. And with good reason. Nick Bonner and the guys run a slick outfit offering tours to North Korea, but most meaningfully for me they have had a hand in … Continue reading →

Posted in Co-production, Comrade Kim Goes Flying, Koryo Tours, North Korean Films, Pyongyang International Film Festival | 4 Comments

Potential Somi – the Taekwon-do Woman screening in London

Posted on August 23, 2012

CORRECTION: As was pointed out to me on twitter, these guys are actually searching for money to make this screening happen! If you want to see it, contribute! Well it’s not often I get to highlight screenings of North Korean … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment