Watch Kimjongilia: The Flower of Kim Jong Il

Kimjongilia: The Flower of Kim Jong Il is a 2009 documentary film directed by N.C. Heikin. The film tells the story of North Korea and its former leaders, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, through interviews with North Korean refugees and defectors. The title of the film, "Kimjongilia," refers to a flower named in honor of Kim Jong-il. The film is divided into four chapters, each exploring a different aspect of North Korea's society and politics. The first chapter, "The Leader and The People," examines the cult of personality surrounding Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Using archival footage, the film shows how the two leaders were portrayed as almost divine beings, worshipped by the North Korean people.

The second chapter, "The Hermit Kingdom," explores North Korea's isolation from the rest of the world. Through interviews with defectors and refugees, the film shows how the country's strict censorship and control of information kept its citizens in the dark about the outside world. The film also gives a glimpse into daily life in North Korea, showing the poverty and hardship faced by many of its people.

The third chapter, "The Revolution and The Military," looks at North Korea's military and its role in the country's political system. The film examines how the military has been used to enforce the regime's ideology and maintain its grip on power. The chapter also touches on North Korea's nuclear program, and the international controversy it has sparked.

The final chapter, "The Family and The Witness," focuses on the experiences of North Korean refugees and defectors. Through interviews with several individuals who have escaped the country, the film shows the harsh realities of life under the North Korean regime. The chapter also includes interviews with relatives of political prisoners and refugees who were unable to leave North Korea, giving a sense of the risks and sacrifices involved in attempting to flee the country.

The film is narrated by actor Young Hun Choi, who gives a dramatic reading of North Korean propaganda texts throughout the documentary. Alongside the interviews and archival footage, the film also features a musical score composed by Lee Shin.

Overall, Kimjongilia: The Flower of Kim Jong Il is a sobering and eye-opening look at life in one of the world's most closed-off and secretive countries. Through its interviews and archival footage, the film provides a rare glimpse into a world that few outsiders ever get to see. While the film is critical of the North Korean regime, it also acknowledges the humanity of its people, and the struggles they face in their daily lives. For anyone interested in North Korea or the politics of authoritarian regimes, Kimjongilia is a must-see film.

Kimjongilia: The Flower of Kim Jong Il is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 44.