About this item
Highlights
- Like many ideological dictatorships of the twentieth century, North Korea has always considered cinema an indispensible propaganda tool.
- About the Author: Johannes Schönherr is a freelance writer specializing in travel, film and food.
- 224 Pages
- Performing Arts, Film
Description
About the Book
Like many ideological dictatorships of the twentieth century, North Korea has always considered cinema an indispensible propaganda tool. No other medium penetrated the whole of the population so thoroughly, and no other medium remained so strictly and exclusively under state control. Through movies, the two successive leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il propagandized their policies and sought to rally the masses behind them, with great success. This volume chronicles the history of North Korean cinema from its beginnings to today, examining the obstacles the film industry faced as well as the many social problems the films themselves reveal. It provides detailed analyses of major and minor films and explores important developments in the industry within the context of the concurrent social and political atmosphere. Through the lens of cinema emerges a fresh perspective on the history of North Korean politics, culture, and ideology.Book Synopsis
Like many ideological dictatorships of the twentieth century, North Korea has always considered cinema an indispensible propaganda tool. No other medium penetrated the whole of the population so thoroughly, and no other medium remained so strictly and exclusively under state control. Through movies, the two successive leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il propagandized their policies and sought to rally the masses behind them, with great success. This volume chronicles the history of North Korean cinema from its beginnings to today, examining the obstacles the film industry faced as well as the many social problems the films themselves reveal. It provides detailed analyses of major and minor films and explores important developments in the industry within the context of the concurrent social and political atmosphere. Through the lens of cinema emerges a fresh perspective on the history of North Korean politics, culture, and ideology.
Review Quotes
"there is one man who stands above them all in terms of North Korea cinema: Johannes Schonherr. Schonherr has recorded for prosperity's sake some marvellous adventures associated with North Korean cinema that those of us unable to read Korean may never have discovered...excellent...Schonherr [has] written the only 'essential' book on North Korean cinema that you could need"-North Korean Films.
About the Author
Johannes Schönherr is a freelance writer specializing in travel, film and food. He lives in Japan.
