Amazing video of Pyongyang (short at 3.5 mins)

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Jeffrey O'Neill

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it's hard to think life could be so normal in the hermit kingdom

Enter Pyongyang on Vimeo


FAQs
-How were you guys allowed to film in Pyongyang?
This project was produced in conjunction with Koryo Tours, the leading North Korea travel specialist. Vicky Mohieddeen of Koryo Tours was with us throughout the shoot.
-Were there restrictions on what was allowed to be filmed?
We were closely assisted by two guides from the National Tourism Administration, who helped us gain special access to locations and made sure that we followed all the rules. As is standard for all foreign visitors to the country, we were not allowed to shoot any construction sites, undeveloped locations or military personnel. Other than that we were given relatively free reign.
-Isn’t this all fake? You don’t see the real North Korea.
The average visitor to Pyongyang is likely to be surprised by the scenes they encounter and are especially surprised about how clean and orderly the city actually is. Indeed, people living in Pyongyang and other major cities enjoy a higher quality of life than those in other parts of the county.
-Are people allowed to travel to North Korea?
Yes, despite what the majority of people think, it is possible to visit North Korea as a tourist. North Korea does not release official data on the number of Western tourists it receives, but estimates range from 4,000 to 6,000 per year. Most of the foreign tourists are from Mainland China, estimated in the tens of thousands annually.
-Were you paid to make this film?
We volunteered for this project with no pay at all. All other travel expenses for the 6 day trip were covered by Koryo Tours.
-Does this film support the DPRK government?
"Enter Pyongyang" is an observational film. At no point did Koryo Tours or we have to pretend to be supporters of the DPRK Government or their philosophy in order to be granted permission to shoot this film. Amazingly, we were given complete editorial control in the making of this piece.
 
Very nicely made video!

What jumped out at me was the lack of advertising anywhere.

Well almost ;)
 
Tried to watch and got the message - 'Sorry the video does not exist' :(
Maybe the dear leader didn't like it ;)
 
It's a great piece of film, but it is not normal. Justice Kirby has likened North Korea to a modern day Holocaust. This film is chilling propaganda.

I don't doubt outside the capital that life is as grim as the reports we read, but it's because of that I was surprised that life in the capital did seem normal to a degree.
 
I don't doubt outside the capital that life is as grim as the reports we read, but it's because of that I was surprised that life in the capital did seem normal to a degree.

It's designed to get the outside world to think exactly that... that life is 'normal' and civilised. It also serves a purpose for the domestic market, citizens come to a 'great' capital and think they have the power their leader tells them. No doubt the N korean elite also want a nice clean capital away from the starving.

The naz_s made similar propaganda films to show how 'wonderful' concentration camps were (everybody happy, eating well, and enjoying themselves).

This video is all show... and was produced under the watchful eye of the tour company. The FAQs are very carefully worded to make it look like the film crew had freedom. Reading between the lines it says anything but.

If only life were 'grim' outside the capital... by all accounts it is hell on earth.
 
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How about considering in the video the number of people that are:

Laughing with friends (0)
Smiling (1 girl embarassed at skate park)
Dining out (0)
Eating out (0)
Having a good time (0)
Chatting to friends after work (0)

The sequence with the roundabout attendant is quite funny with her resulting animation.


Nice video presentation though.

Alby
 
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