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Love, films, and kidnapping unfold in North Korea, where Kim Jong-11, before his rise as a notorious dictator, led the Ministry for Propaganda. Frustrated by the inferiority of North Korean films compared to Hollywood's, he devised a plan to kidnap South Korea’s most famous actress and her acclaimed director ex-husband. The actress vanished first, and when the director sought answers, he found himself aboard a ship to North Korea, wrapped in plastic sheeting. To earn Kim’s trust, they collaborated on a series of epic films, including a cult classic remake of Godzilla. However, the question remained: could they escape? This gripping non-fiction thriller offers a rare glimpse into a bizarre world, filled with tension and passion. Critics have hailed it as an extraordinary tale from an unusual country, blending history, thriller, and farce. It captures a nearly unbelievable Cold War story and an epic love story, revealing the movie-obsessed nature of Kim Jong-11. The narrative showcases the audacity of kidnapping two South Korean stars to create films that could rival Hollywood, making it a captivating and flabbergasting account of a historical episode.
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A Kim Jong-Il production, Paul Fischer-Schröter
- Language
- Released
- 2015
- product-detail.submit-box.info.binding
- (Paperback)
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- Language
- English
- Authors
- Paul Fischer-Schröter
- Publisher
- Viking, an imprint of Penguin Books
- Released
- 2015
- Format
- Paperback
- ISBN10
- 0241004306
- ISBN13
- 9780241004302
- Series
- Tags
- Non-Fiction, Art & Culture, Social Sciences, Historical Themes, History, True Stories, Biographies, Political Science & Politics, Politics, Creative Nonfiction, Filmthema, Film, Asia, True Crime, Politicians' Biographies, Based on True Events, CIA, Totalitarian regimes, North Korea, Film Industry
- First published
- 2015
- Original title
- A Kim Jong-Il Production
- Rating
- 4.35 out of 5
- Description
- Love, films, and kidnapping unfold in North Korea, where Kim Jong-11, before his rise as a notorious dictator, led the Ministry for Propaganda. Frustrated by the inferiority of North Korean films compared to Hollywood's, he devised a plan to kidnap South Korea’s most famous actress and her acclaimed director ex-husband. The actress vanished first, and when the director sought answers, he found himself aboard a ship to North Korea, wrapped in plastic sheeting. To earn Kim’s trust, they collaborated on a series of epic films, including a cult classic remake of Godzilla. However, the question remained: could they escape? This gripping non-fiction thriller offers a rare glimpse into a bizarre world, filled with tension and passion. Critics have hailed it as an extraordinary tale from an unusual country, blending history, thriller, and farce. It captures a nearly unbelievable Cold War story and an epic love story, revealing the movie-obsessed nature of Kim Jong-11. The narrative showcases the audacity of kidnapping two South Korean stars to create films that could rival Hollywood, making it a captivating and flabbergasting account of a historical episode.