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A State of Mind

Following on from the 2002 award winning documentary The Game of Their Lives, VeryMuchSo productions was granted permission from the North Korean film authorities to make a second documentary: an observational film following two young gymnasts, 13 year old Pak Hyon Sun and 11 year old Kim Song Yun, and their families for over eight months in the lead up to the Mass Games—involving a cast of thousands in a choreographed socialist realism spectacular—the biggest and most elaborate human performance on earth.

Synopsis
About The Documentary
Technical Infomation
Synopsis

A State of Mind provides a rare glimpse into what is one of the world’s least known societies. North Korea is sealed off from outside influences. It borders China and Russia to the north, and to the south there is a 4km wide impenetrable border with South Korea. The country follows its own communist ideals, a strict philosophy known as the Juche Idea wrapped around the worship of the Kim dynasty – Kim Il Sung, their Eternal President who died in 1994 but remains Head of State, and his son and successor, Kim Jong Il, known as the General.

The crew began filming in February 2003 with unique access to the two families’ day to day life from home, at work in the city and countryside—a remarkable insight into a part of North Korean society never before allowed. As their Korean minder explained “you have to understand, no one has ever been allowed to see, let alone film, what you are witnessing”.

Western eyes, for the very first time, have a unique insight into North Korean society, its people, its way of life, and its total devotion to their leader and ruler, Kim Jong Il.

About The Documentary

A State of Mind is an observational film following two young gymnasts and their families for over eight months in the lead up to the Mass Games – involving a cast of thousands in a choreographed, socialist realism spectacle – the biggest and most elaborate human performance on earth.

The film provides a rare glimpse into what is one of the world’s least known societies. North Korea is sealed off from outside influences. It borders China and Russia to the North, and to the South there is a 4km wide impenetrable border with South Korea.

The country follows its own communist ideals, a strict philosophy known as the Juche Idea, wrapped around the worship of the Kim dynasty – Kim II Sung, their Eternal President who died in 1994 but remains Head of State, and his son and successor, Kim Jong II, known as the General.

Technical Infomation

Director: Daniel Gordon
Associate Producer: Nicholas Bonner

In association with Passion Pictures, BBC, ARTE and WNET

Produced by: VeryMuchSo Productions

Language: English & Korean
Subtitles: English & Korean
Running Time: 80 Min

Colour Mode: Colour
Region Mode: Multi-Region (DVD)

Director / Producer: Daniel Gordon
Associate Producer: Nicholas Bonner
Editor: Peter Haddon
Executive Producer: John Battsek
Cinematography: Nick Bennett

The film was broadcast on BBC4 and ARTE in June 2004.

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Crossing The Line
Centre Forward

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