Watch I Am Sun Mu

I Am Sun Mu is a documentary film that provides an insightful look into the North Korean art world and its practitioners. Directed by Adam Sjöberg, the film tells the story of Sun Mu, a North Korean artist who uses his work to critique the oppressive regime under which he lives. The film traces Sun Mu's journey from being a propaganda artist for the North Korean government to becoming a critic of its policies. As a child, Sun Mu was selected for an elite school for artists, where he was trained to produce artwork that glorified the regime. However, after a few years of working as a government artist, he became disillusioned with his work and began to question the North Korean regime.

The film shows how Sun Mu's art became increasingly critical of the North Korean government, despite the severe consequences he faced for expressing his opinions. He was eventually forced to flee the country and take up residence in South Korea, where he continued to produce artwork that criticized the North Korean regime.

The film also highlights the precarious position of North Korean defectors in South Korea. Sun Mu and his fellow defectors face many challenges in their new country, from learning a new language and adapting to a new culture to dealing with PTSD and other mental health issues.

Through interviews with Sun Mu and others, as well as footage of his artwork, the film provides an intimate portrayal of the artist and his motivations. The film peels back the layers of propaganda that North Korea uses to maintain its control over its citizens and demonstrates the power of art to speak truth to power.

In addition to Sun Mu's story, the film also sheds light on the broader North Korean art world. The film shows how the government uses art as a propaganda tool to reinforce its ideology and maintain its control. We see examples of the kind of art that is encouraged in North Korea, and the film provides an interesting contrast between the official state-sanctioned art and the work produced by Sun Mu.

The film is well-crafted and engaging, using a combination of interviews, archival footage, and animation to tell the story of Sun Mu and the North Korean art world. Throughout the film, the director skillfully balances the personal story of Sun Mu with the broader political context, providing a clear and insightful portrayal of North Korea and its art world.

Overall, I Am Sun Mu is an excellent documentary that provides a fascinating glimpse into the North Korean art world and the ways in which art can be used as a tool for political resistance. The film is an engaging and insightful portrait of an artist and his struggle for artistic freedom in one of the most repressive regimes in the world.

I Am Sun Mu is a 2015 animated movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.