Songs From the North

Watch Songs From the North

  • NR
  • 2015
  • 1 hr 12 min
  • 6.2  (127)

Songs From the North is a unique documentary film released in 2014 that explores the lives of people living in North Korea. Directed by Soon-Mi Yoo, Songs From the North takes a personal, intimate approach to the topic of North Korean life, letting the people and their stories speak for themselves. The film is structured as three distinct parts, each focusing on a different aspect of life in North Korea. The first part, titled "North Korean Romance," explores the country's official ideology and how it has influenced the lives of its citizens. We see footage of grand, government-sanctioned celebrations and parades, as well as the everyday lives of North Koreans going about their business. Through interviews with a range of people, from school children to elders, we get a sense of how pervasive the government's message is, and how it has shaped the way people view their country and their lives within it. The section culminates in a haunting montage of everyday life in North Korea, set to a North Korean love song.

The second part, "The Life of an Artist," focuses on North Korean culture and how it is portrayed through state-sanctioned art. We see a range of performers, including traditional musicians and dancers, as well as modern pop stars, singing and dancing in front of massive audiences. Interviews with artists and performers give us an insight into their lives, as well as the ways in which their art serves the state's propaganda goals. The section ends with a haunting rendition of "Arirang," North Korea's unofficial national anthem, sung by a lone voice in a desolate landscape.

The final section, "Crossing," focuses on North Korean refugees who have fled the country and are now living in exile in South Korea. Through interviews and personal anecdotes, we hear their incredible stories of escape and survival, as well as their ongoing struggles to adapt to a completely different society. We also see how they are working to preserve their own culture and traditions, while simultaneously forging new lives in their adopted homeland.

What makes Songs From the North so fascinating is its unorthodox approach to representing North Korea. Rather than relying on news footage or journalistic investigation, the film takes a deeply human approach, focusing on the people themselves and their stories. The result is a film that manages to be both deeply moving and thought-provoking, providing a glimpse into one of the world's most enigmatic and closed societies.

At the same time, though, Songs From the North is a profoundly ambivalent work. On the one hand, it celebrates the resilience and humanity of North Korea's people, even as it examines the ways in which they have been shaped by a repressive regime. On the other hand, though, it is hard to escape the sense that the film is at least partly complicit in the propaganda it is critiquing. By giving voice to North Koreans who are proud of their country and its ideals, Songs From the North risks legitimizing the very narratives it is trying to interrogate.

Still, there is no denying that Songs From the North is an important and deeply affecting work. Through its intimate, poetic approach, it offers a window into a world that is at once familiar and utterly alien to most viewers. Its vivid cinematography and haunting, melancholic soundtrack only add to its power, evoking a sense of both longing and loss that lingers long after the film has ended. For anyone interested in understanding North Korea's people and culture, Songs From the North is an essential watch.

Songs From the North is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 12 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.

Description
Where to Watch Songs From the North
Songs From the North is available to watch free on Vudu Free and Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download and buy on demand at Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent Songs From the North for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2015
  • MPAA Rating
    NR
  • Runtime
    1 hr 12 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    6.2  (127)