The Lovers and the Despot

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Audience Member A documentary which is equal parts fascinating and horrifying, if often insubstantial, The Lovers & The Despot tells a story so bizarre you'd swear it could never be true, and some people still believe that to be so. It provides an interesting glimpse into not only life in North Korea, but into the mind of its idiosyncratic leader of the time Kim Jong-Il, apparently more self-effacing than his successor, who wanted so badly to glorify his nation that he was willing to kidnap a high-profile couple to make it happen. It feels like it left a lot of important details out, only sticking to the major events and ignoring the little ones which could add a lot more depth to the tale. The use of real footage adds authenticity, and I'm genuinely surprised that there exists so much video and photographic recordings of Jong-Il, but it's fascinating to see him in ways we never have before, since we were rarely, if ever, offered the chance. And that's what this documentary is in a nutshell: Getting a close look at something we've never had a chance to see before. It may not be as comprehensive as it should be, but I learned a lot from the interviews and footage, and would definitely recommend it to anyone who has any interest in what is undoubtedly the most mysterious country on Earth. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Another bizarre story from North Korea. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member The production was very good. i enjoyed the weaving of the personal story with North Korea overall. The use of Shin's films to illustrate scenes from the story was skillful. You also get to see some footage of North Korea that I don't think I've seen elsewhere. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review nathan z Some of the greatest stories are so bizarre and unpredictable that they could only come from real life, and documentaries are a terrific showcase for the strange-but-true realities of our world that have escaped notice. The Lovers and the Despot is a film that leaves you wanting more just because its own true-life tale is so engrossing and deserving of further examination. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il was so frustrated with his country's film industry that he kidnapped his favorite South Korean filmmaking husband and wife team, actress Choi Eun-hee and director Shin Sang-ok. The couple made over 17 films for the dictator and had to earn his trust before they could plot an escape. This is a fascinating story about the power and entitlement others feel of art, with Kim Jong-il desperate for world recognition through the cinematic arts. He gave the couple a blank check and unrivaled artistic freedom, enough that some in South Korea suspect that Shin defected to the North rather than having been kidnapped. There are astonishing gets for this doc, namely Kim Jong-il's actual audio conversations secretly recorded by Choi Eun-hee. When the couple defected to an American embassy, the U.S. government had never heard the dictator's voice before, and here it was thanks to an actress. It feels like there's so much more to this story that's missing, either from the interview subjects' reticence to share too much or the filmmakers reluctance to embrace more of the Cold War paranoia thriller trappings the story can veer into. There are some insights into the despot but they mostly fall into daddy issues. The omnipresent threat of the dictator is best visually showcased during the funeral marches for his father and then eventually Kim Jong-il himself. The masses are in a state of hysterical grief that crosses into parody, until you realize that these people are adopting a false front to protect themselves and their families just like Choi. Those not "properly grieving" could be punished, and so the miles of people wailing and hyperventilating becomes a chilling symbol of the hold one man has on the country even after death. The Lovers and the Despot is a fascinating story of artists held hostage by their biggest fan, who happened to be a ruthless dictator. It's naturally compelling but you wish that someone else might better realize its potential on a second crack. Nate's Grade: B Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review john s If you thought "The Interview" was over-the-top crazy, then have a seat. "Lovers and the Despot" tells an absolutely ridiculous true story that can only exist thanks to the long line of loony North Korean dictators. Back in '78, Kim Jong-il decided to ramp up his floundering movie industry by importing some primo talent from the South. Importing is code for kidnapping. And the talent is the boffo international film darlings, husband and wife team of Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee. Told matter-of-factly by the famous leading lady, this story of espionage, entrapment, and suffering, creates way more questions than answers. The events are sketchy. The circumstances cloudy. The evidence is muddy. It's hard to paint a clear picture. Or movie. Throughout the wild and wooly ordeal, one thing stands out: the surreal life adventures of North Korean dictators is Hollywood gold. - hipCRANK Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Stranger than fiction and larger than life. The urban legend about Kim Jong-il kidnapping the best actress and director from South Korea to improve the quality of movies made in North Korea is recounted in this documentary with the fascinating intrigue of an espionage thriller. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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