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Deep Dive: Under the Sun (2015)

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Under the Sun
Under the Sun is a documentary directed by Vitaly Mansky that follows a year in the life of a family in Pyongyang, North Korea, focusing on their daughter, Zin-mi, as she prepares to join the Korean Children's Union on Kim Jong Il's birthday, known as the Day of the Shining Star. The film is structured around a script provided by the North Korean authorities, who also controlled filming locations and monitored the footage. This staged approach reveals the curated image of life in North Korea that the government wishes to project. Mansky's intention was to create a film reminiscent of the Soviet Union, aiming to understand his own country's history through the lens of North Korea. He observed significant differences between North Korea and the Soviet Union, noting the absence of cultural outlets and critical thought in North Korean society. The film illustrates how the family is portrayed in a way that aligns with the state's narrative, raising questions about authenticity and the nature of reality in a controlled environment.

Why Watch

  • •See how North Korea stages daily life for foreign visitors.
  • •Meet Zin-mi, a girl preparing for a state-sanctioned event.
  • •Discover the differences between North Korea and the Soviet Union.

Did You Know

•The film was directed by Vitaly Mansky and released in 2015.
•North Korean authorities objected to the film after discovering unapproved footage.
•94% of critics' reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are positive, based on 32 reviews.
•Mansky negotiated for two years with the North Korean Ministry of Culture to film.

Perfect For

North Korean studiesDocumentary filmmakingCultural propaganda