On Jan. 9
@independentlens will premiere the documentary Beyond Utopia, about North Korean defectors.
In response, veteran filmmakers Deann Borshay Liem, Hye-Jung Park, and JT Takagi have sent an open letter to Executive Producer Lois Vossen with concerns about the documentary’s “unbalanced and inaccurate narrative about Korean history and North Korean society.”
“[N]oticeably lacking is any mention of the ongoing impact of the Korean War and U.S. policies that have destabilized the livelihood and well-being of North Korea’s people,” the filmmakers write.
The filmmakers mention the impact of sanctions, which “underpin the difficult economic conditions portrayed in the film,” and the film’s factual inaccuracies that “obscure events that are critical for understanding Korean history.” They also raise questions about “the power dynamics in the filmmaking process between the filmmaker, the crew, the pastor, and the defectors.”
Their asks include adding a disclaimer to the film, pursuing alternative programming about the issue, and incorporating “voices of Asian American and Korean diasporic community members, scholars, and activists who have a critical understanding of this history.”
Please read and share the letter widely and tag
@independentlens. Link in bio.