By Meghan Doyle | Observer Contributor
Documentaries are intended to provide an audience with factual records and reports on the subject matter. However, when you’re filming in one of the most controlling countries in the world, you don’t always get a choice on what you can shoot. In this case, Zin-Mi and her family appear to be perfect example of an ordinary North Korean family. The only problem is that none of it is true.
Released in 2015, the documentary Under The Sun was filmed under strict government supervision. It was released by Icarus Films and directed by Vitaly Mansky, who was allowed only a small crew for filming.
The film follows the family of Zin-Mi, a young girl who is ready to join the Children’s Union of North Korea. It begins with wonderful excitement on all sides. This is interrupted when director Vitaly understands this was not intended to be a real documentary, but rather a propaganda film scripted by the North Korean government.
“The situation with the film Under the Sun was very unnatural because they set up these completely unrealistic scenes right in front of us in plain view, distorting what was actually happening,” Vitaly explained in an interview with Visions du Réel. “But we strongly felt and believed that in the end, even the distortion of reality was itself a portrayal of reality.”
“Under The Sun” does gives us a bit of insight into what life is like for a citizen in North Korea, what it really shows is the power governments can exert on its people to create illusions. Vitaly’s brilliant way to get around such a suffocating filming environment was simple; shot the entire production process.
Up until the point of the movie where Vitaly begins to film between takes, it’s quite easy to mistake acting for truth. The moment that the government official calls cut for the first time and urges the family to “…act naturally, like you do at home,” the illusion is shattered. Then you can begin to appreciate the many layers this movie has to offer.
One spectacular part of the film they were able to capture was the little girl Zin-Mi’s expressions in between takes. As a child, it’s apparent on her face she has conflicting emotions about this entire situation. We get to see her go from a scripted and fake personality to her true self.
However, the film itself is very slow moving. You watch some scenes multiple times until the government officials are satisfied with their levels of joy and patriotism. While this factor does contribute to the overall point of the movie, it also makes it easy to lose focus.
From the crying face of Zin-Mi, who cannot think of anything happy at the end of the film, to her sleepy classmate struggling to keep his eyes open during a veterans’ war stories, between takes. Under The Sun is a pristine and nearly unedited piece that demonstrates the terrifying power of totalitarian government over those forced to live inside it. This movie doesn’t show horrifying events inside of North Korea, but rather how they attempt to do to block any knowledge of it.
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