Did anybody see tonight’s episode of Frontline/World in North Korea? Whadja think?
I thought it was interesting. When the young girl sang the song about how when the sun shines it is the great leader, I kinda shuddered.
At one point, the guy who did the film, Ben Anderson, said something to the effect that he really thought he would be talking down their ideology, but instead he felt for them. I thought that was one of the most open and insightful things I have ever heard.
Prety interesting, but I’ve seen better reports though.
I saw the last ten minutes or so, it was just fascinating. It was so sad. When he asked his guide about the famine and she says it wasn’t that bad, you could just see the doublethink in her pause just before answering. The consternation over the bird landing on the statue was scary but funny as was the comparison over watches. I thought the difference between what Kim Jong-Il looks like and how he is portrayed is amazing. I wish it would have been longer.
The farewell between the Anderson and his guides was quite touching. Clearly the woman felt a strong connection with him and wants NK to open up to the west. For her, it must have been like a few days in dreamland, and when he goes, it’s back to trying not to starve to death.
I agree with all of you, except Ryan_Liam. But that’s only because I’ve never seen another report from inside NK, so that was the best by definition (I guess). The report, IMO, didn’t quite jibe with what I read in Fielding’s World’s Most Dangerous Places. Although it’s been a few years since I’ve read the book, I don’t know if it’s been updated. I expected more hostility, more wierdness. But even the balding guy who was filmed saying something about Capitalistic Cowboy American Pigs and then laughing like is was just a big joke came accross as not wierd at all. I found myself wanting to visit.
Gosh, I really forget how people are people, you know? The guards at the DMZ seemed like such great guys. I felt like I could hang out with them. It would be really interesting to exchange stories. My dad had friends who fought in Korea (my dad got drafted and took the draft notice to the navy recruiter…on the advice of returning vets), and it would be interesting to hear stories from the other side. I think it would be fun to discuss burgeois (sp?) economics with a NK economist.
I’m really glad I saw that report. Thanks for responding.