Under The Sun

Under The Sun is a 2015 documentary film that takes an intimate look at life in North Korea from the perspective of a young girl named Zin-Mi. The film was directed by Vitaly Mansky, a Russian filmmaker who was granted unprecedented access to the notoriously secretive country.

The film begins with Zin-Mi, a bright and curious girl, as she prepares to start her first year of school. The camera follows her as she goes about her daily routines, including attending school, dancing in a patriotic performance, and spending time with her family. We see her interacting with her parents, her classmates, and her teachers, all of whom demonstrate unwavering devotion to the country's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un.

As the film progresses, we start to see the ways in which Zin-Mi's life is controlled by the state. She is taught that the Kim family is infallible, and that their leadership is the reason for the country's success. She is also taught to mistrust outsiders and to view the rest of the world as a threat to North Korea's way of life.

Throughout the film, there are moments of surreal beauty, such as when Zin-Mi and her classmates go on a field trip to a salt mine and spend the day singing and playing games. But these moments are always overshadowed by the fact that everything is being carefully orchestrated by the government.

One of the most striking things about Under The Sun is the way in which Mansky manages to show us the absurdity of life in North Korea without resorting to overt criticism. Instead, he simply lets the images speak for themselves. For example, in one scene, Zin-Mi and her classmates are shown singing a song about the country's rocket technology, complete with lyrics that boast about the ability to "strike the enemy with a single blow." It's a chilling moment, made all the more unsettling by the fact that the children singing the song seem completely unfazed by its violent message.

Despite the film's lack of overt commentary, it's clear that Mansky is trying to make a statement about the nature of propaganda and the way in which it is used to control people. The film's very existence is a testament to this, as Mansky was only allowed to make the film under strict supervision from North Korean officials, who dictated much of what he could and could not film. The result is a film that feels both starkly truthful and deeply manipulated. At times, it's hard to know what is real and what is staged, and Mansky deliberately blurs the lines between the two.

Overall, Under The Sun is a powerful and haunting portrait of life in one of the world's most secretive countries. It's an important reminder of the dangers of propaganda and the importance of questioning the narratives that are presented to us by those in power. For anyone interested in North Korea, or in the power of documentary filmmaking, it's a must-watch.