Beyond Utopia (2023)
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Beyond Utopia Movie Review
Beyond Utopia is a 2023 documentary film directed by Madeleine Gavin. It’s a flawed, but very important and powerful film.
Combining interviews with secretly shot footage, the filmmaker focuses on the difficulties facing North Korean defectors, revealing a way of life unknown to most of the world. Western media usually put all of their attention toward Russia or China, but in actuality the most dangerous country you can live in is North Korea and the most mysterious one. This documentary tackles all of the horror that defectors from that country face while fleeing to freedom in neighboring South Korea.
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This doc is at its best when focusing on that mission to transport these people safely from one country to another. You see, the border with South Korea is closed off with mines, so these defectors have to go through China and other neighboring countries until landing in South Korea. The movie is illuminating in showcasing the full horror of that trek and the amazing humanity behind this one South Korean man who went out of his way to help hundreds of people achieve this escape.
Beyond Utopia is, thus, a very heartbreaking watch. It is very intense following this main family’s life or death quest and the third act of the movie is particularly touching in its implications. The movie reminds us of the gravity of this situation and what living in North Korea as a whole is like, which makes it a harrowing, but essential viewing experience.
Even the footage inside North Korea was shown, which made the movie downright revolutionary. The imagery that we see is horrifying for sure. The portrayal of this truly Orwellian country in its structure was disturbing and very effective.
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The only issue here is that historical account section. Initially, I quite liked this part of the movie as I found it to be revelatory, especially in regards to the first Kim and the Soviet role in setting up his leadership. However, upon further reading I realized just how much the movie brushed aside, especially American role in the Korean War. This is a typically Western production in its viewpoint and bent, but it’s not as propagandistic as most would say it is, but it was still frustrating to witness.
Beyond Utopia is a harrowing and very important documentary about defectors from North Korea and what they go through on their trek to freedom. This is a typically American production in its biased omission of their role in the history of this country in the very beginnings, but it’s for the most part a superbly made, emotionally effective, illuminating and genuinely disturbing doc that resembled a thriller in its most intense moments.
My Rating – 4
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