Russian censors have banned a film about escaping from North Korea
The Russian Ministry of Culture has denied a distribution license for the film *Leaving North Korea*, which was scheduled to be released on April 30.
This was reported by the distributor U Films, noting that Russian audiences will now have no legal way to see this dramatic story.
The decision to ban the film was made based on the vague wording “in other cases specified by federal laws.”
The Ministry of Culture of the aggressor state chose not to specify which specific provisions of the law the story about escaping from the communist “paradise” violates, but experts see a political subtext in this.
The plot of the film by Danish director Frederik Selberg tells the story of a young woman forced to flee North Korea illegally.
The main character flees to South Korea with a single goal—to earn money for the treatment of her seriously ill mother, who remained in the closed dictatorship.
Representatives of the distribution company expressed sincere regret over the censorship decision: “We are very sorry that Russian audiences will not have a legal opportunity to see this moving film.”
The film’s screenplay was co-written with Sharon Choe, a real-life refugee from North Korea.
Director Frederik Selberg explained his vision as follows: “My goal was to create a universal film based on a specific story of forced relocation, while also addressing broader questions: who we are and where we belong.”
The film has already received international recognition, including the Audience Choice Award at the Busan Film Festival.
The film “The Sharp-Hatted Ones: Immortal” opened with a 93% approval rating
As a reminder, a lost film by Georges Méliès featuring the first robot in cinema history was discovered in the U.S.
Warner Bros. is also developing a prequel film set in the “Game of Thrones” universe.
