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The harrowing journey out of North Korea in ‘Beyond Utopia’

Political Theater, Episode 306

A view toward the North Korean side of the Joint Security Area within the DMZ from Panmunjom, South Korea, on Feb. 21, 2018.
A view toward the North Korean side of the Joint Security Area within the DMZ from Panmunjom, South Korea, on Feb. 21, 2018. (Niels Lesniewski/CQ Roll Call)
By Jason Dick
Posted November 13, 2023 at 11:30am

If you know anyone who clings to antiquated notions that documentary films are dry affairs, kindly refer them to “Beyond Utopia,” Madeleine Gavin’s movie about the perilous paths North Korean defectors and their allies take to get them safely out of one of the world’s most repressive and cloistered countries. In addition to addressing the important issues about a geopolitical hot spot, the filmmaking here makes for a compelling adventure. Director Madeleine Gavin and producer Sue Mi Terry join the Political Theater podcast to discuss their project.

Show Notes:

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