A State of Mind

Synopsis: A British documentary that follows two young North Korean girls as they prepare for the Mass Games, the world's largest choreographed gymnastics performance.

Genre: Documentary

Director(s): Daniel Gordon

Actors: Daniel Gordon, Hyon Sun Pak, Song Yun Kim, Kim Jong-il

Production: Kino International

1 nomination.


IMDB:: 7.8
Metacritic:: 63
Rotten Tomatoes:: 89%

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Year:: 2004
: 93 min
: Website
: 64 Views

North Korea is the least visited
North Korea is the least known
North Korea is the least understood...
...country inthe world.
It is home to the Mass Games...
...the largest choreographed spectacle
in the world.
I long for the day
when I perform for the General...
...so I train through the pain.
To strengthen my resolve to do well
in gymnastics and school...
...I study with a picture of the Great Leader
and the General.
In 2003, a British documentary
crew followed
two North Korean schoolgirls, as they
prepared for that year's Mass Games.
Mass Games are North Korea's
socialist realism extravaganza
and a perfect example of the
state's ideology
the subordination of the individual's desires
to the needs of the collective.
Throughout the year, North Korea was
the focus of negative world attention
as its nuclear policy was condemned worldwide.
At a time when North Korea's distrust of
the outside world was at its highest,
the film crew was granted unparalleled
co-operation from the authorities.
There were guides and interpreters
present at all times,
but they neither interfered nor sought to
censor the material.
For the first time ever, North Korea
the secret state, would reveal
itself to outsiders
A State of Mind
Pyongyang, North Korea's capital.
A harsh winter is almost at an end
but it is February and
minus eight degrees.
As there is negligible
indoor heating here
the children of Pyongyang
remain on winter holiday
Kim II Sung Stadium
But for an elite group of gymnasts
there is no time for play
only for training.
Hands up if you can do it like her
It's a club where my classmates and I...
...perform group gymnastics together
with our hearts in unison.
The Mass Games club trains daily
for a minimum of two hours.
Pak Hyon Sun
The temperature can be as low as
20 degrees centigrade...
...whilst we train at the athletic
academy for young people.
You look prettier as you smile.
Pak Hyon Sun is 13 years old. She
has been a member of the Mass Games
club for four years.
When I train, I sometimes fall
over and hurt my knees.
So it hurts in a lot of places...
...but I long for the day when I
perform for the General...
...so I train through the pain.
It's tough
Scenes of collective training can be
found all over Pyongyang.
Each Mass Games unit is striving to
attain the state's desire
to cultivate the group mentality.
Since the formation of The Democratic
People's Republic of Korea in 1948
the State has imposed an all encompassing
belief structure on the people.
The placement of Mass Games within
this structure has never been more significant.
For the participants it enforces
submission to the group
For the audience it is an inspiration to
behold the values of teamwork
and the glory of the
State and the Leader.
In the West North Korea is condemned
as a repressive and totalitarian state.
Yet here, the high level of discipline
is imposed by the perceived threat from
the outside world.
They see it as their struggle to build a
strong country under its own principles.
Everything centres around the worship
of the Great Leader, Kim II Sung
who died in 1994, and his son and
successor Kim Jong Il, the General.
Before appearing in front of the General...
...my chest and heart were trembling.
My whole body was trembling.
I was so frightened that I couldn't move
any part of my body...
...but when I thought that I would go out...
...in front of the General and do my moves...
...it seemed as if the General
was looking at me...
...and saying "Don't cry, do your best."
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