It’s horrific to even think about what many across the world face as a reality. What’s even worse is the core reason for their suffering. That suffering, sadly, comes down to the fact that some people are victims of simply being born in the wrong country (as so eloquently stated in the film). This was the case for three subjects that audiences will be introduced to in the film.
Directed by Madeleine Gavin, Beyond Utopia brings some of the scariest realities to light: defecting from a country led by a not-so-friendly regime. In this case, three sets of North Koreans are risking their lives to break away from the horrors they faced living just north of the border. What sets this apart from other projects focused on North Korea are the number of videos revealed of the secret country and a first glimpse of a network often used to get defectors to safety. This became the life’s work of Pastor Kim.
This epic, edge-of-your-seat documentary unveils an Underground Railroad similar to, but quite different from what we’re familiar with in the West. Pastor Kim spent years building up copious contacts to create a network meant to provide safe passage to South Korea. This often meant taking a not-so-direct route to his home country because of the geographical difficulties. The Yalu River is the border between China and North Korea. Hyeonseo Lee, North Korean activist and author of the book, The Girl With Seven Names, was born and grew up in Hysean, which sits just by the Yalu River. Growing up, she always believed that where she lived was a “utopia”. The documentary is centered around her book and her account of her hometown provided the title.
One thing you learn very quickly in this riveting documentary is that not everyone who defects has a happy ending. In short, the task is difficult. Hyeonseo Lee escaped from North Korea in 1997 and spent the next ten years in China evading the authorities before gaining asylum in South Korea. As Pastor Kim explains, just because you escape from North Korea doesn’t mean you’re free. China, Vietnam, and even Laos are friendly to North Korea and many places incentivized bringing defectors to justice. After losing his son during the rescue of another, Kim dedicated his life, from that moment to rescuing as many people as he possibly could. You’ll learn fairly quickly that this man of God is a go-to for defectors seeking safe passage.
Hear first-person perspectives from authors and activists, and even travel with a family as they trek through adverse terrains in search of a better life in this compelling project by Madeleine Gavin.
Beyond Utopia gets a 10 out of 10. It’s the most gripping documentary you’ll ever see. The film dives right into its purpose and doesn’t stop. Outside of the very limited pockets of humor, you’ll discover during personal recounts of memories, the documentary is all business. Beyond Utopia is up for Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions
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