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Beyond Utopia

Directed by Madeleine Gavin
2023
USA
115 minutes
Unclassified 15+
Book Tickets
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A family of five attempt a dramatic journey from North Korea to freedom, painting a devastating portrait of life under an oppressive regime. Audience Award winner, Sundance 2023.
South Korean Pastor Seungeun Kim uses an underground network to rescue North Korean defectors who’ve make the hazardous trip across the Yalu River into China. Time is of the essence – if the Chinese authorities find them, they will be returned to face severe punishment. When the pastor hears of a family, including two children and a grandparent, in hiding he rushes to help. The family embarks on a treacherous journey wherein their understanding of the West is consistently challenged, revealing much about their repressive homeland. Director Madeleine Gavin’s prize-winning documentary, packed with hidden camera footage, is consistently gripping and totally unforgettable.
Unforgiving, high-stakes and clear-eyed about the devastatingly brainwashing powers of elongated oppression, Beyond Utopia will be talked about well into the awards season with its extraordinary vision.
Tomris Laffly, Harper’s Bazaar
A gripping, moving, sweatily tense documentary that prises open the hidden fiefdom of Kim Jong-un through the misfortunate citizens fighting for their lives trying to escape it.
Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International

Tickets

Fri 9 Jun
6:25pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
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Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
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Sat 17 Jun
3:50pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 9
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Wheelchair
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Program Strand
International Documentaries
Year
2023
Classification
Unclassified 15+
Country
USA
Language
In Korean and English with English subtitles
Director
Madeleine Gavin
Producer
Jana Edelbaum, Rachel Cohen, Sue Mi Terry
Cinematographer
Kim Hyun-seok
Editor
Madeleine Gavin
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Genre
Festival Award Winners, Documentary, Politics & Economics, Human Rights, Asia
Company Credits
Australian Distributor: Madman Entertainment
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