The world premiere of Anna Broinowski’s feature documentary-comedy about the late North Korean dictator Kim Jong- il and his obsession with Hollywood cinema prompted sharply different reactions at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Wednesday night.
Judging by the Twitter sphere, the vast majority of attendees loved the humour, insights into a little-known country and political commentary in Aim High in Creation! But the film had a few haters, who found it disrespectful and patronising.
The producer, Unicorn Films’ Lizzette Atkins, told IF, “From the fantastic reaction last night from the audience, the so called 'haters’ were definitely in the minority.”
North Korea’s “Dear Leader" kept 20,000 movies in a massive cinema complex under his Pyongyang palace and is credited as the executive producer of nearly 1,900 titles. In 1987 he published a manifesto on “how to make the perfect film.”
Broinowski gained rare access to North Korean directors, cinematographers, composers and stars, who tutored her on how to make a drama in which heroic workers overthrow evil gas miners.
Back in Sydney, she assembled a cast to shoot a film adhering to Kim Jong-il’s manifesto, involving Socialist ideology training sessions, the repetitive use of songs and workshops on how to demonstrate a "love for the common people" and "hatred of the class enemy."
Among the most effusive Tweets, Trent Griffiths described the film as “charming, mischievous, rollicking, eye opening, traverse from fracking to North Korean propaganda.”
Daniel R declared it as a “hidden gem” that gave him a new appreciation for the people of North Korea, while Christina E said it is “one fine film.”
Self-proclaimed North Korean buff ‘esurientes’ said it was “a privilege to be in the audience to deflower Aim High in Creation!”
But Lucinda was unimpressed, slamming the film as “patronising, disrespectful, disingenuous, cringeworthy” and opining it should be retitled Let's Laugh at North Korea.
Becca Z said the doc is “cute & well-intentioned, if slightly ham-fisted. Didn't appreciate the director using Japanese words.”
Atkins said, “This is a film which breaks down stereotypes and is irreverent in tone. I think the humour may throw some people. The film traverses a lot of different issues and weaves them together in an entertaining way to explore the bigger picture around propaganda. Conceptually it is quite bold and very complex; amongst other things it explores coal seam gas, North Korean cinema and the power of cinema/images to speak to audiences. However, the fact there are sceptics out there is healthy thing. We welcome debate.
“I suspect that issues of representation, and in particular the representation of the North Korean citizens, are always going to be a touchy subject for certain people. We actually had an extraordinary time in North Korea meeting the 'elite' of the North Korean film industry. They are very warm, funny, generous and committed people and great artists. We hope this comes through in the film.”
Atkins hopes to launch the film at a major international festival, preferably Sundance next January. She is discussing release plans with the Australian distributor Antidote Films, with a view to opening in Oz cinemas after the festival premiere.
XYZ Films is handling sales to the US and the UK’s High Point Media Group has the international rights. It was funded by Screen Australia, Film Victoria and the MIFF Premiere Fund plus $40,000 in development funding from a fund established from the proceeds of the estate of the late filmmaker Solrun Hoaas.