Kimjongilia

North Korea's Communist regime is notoriously closed and repressive. N.C. Heikin's Kimjongilia aims to document the brutal techniques employed by the government to maintain order and obedience, while also suggesting the country's Big Brother benevolence vibe, first under Kim Il-Sung and then his son, Kim Jong-Il. Unfortunately, the second purpose undermines the first. The best parts of the documentary are interview excerpts with refugees who escaped (usually to China), but are haunted by memories of suffering. When a pianist vividly describes being tortured or a woman mournfully recounts how almost her entire family died in prison camps because she happened to hear about a friend's affair with Kim Jong-Il, one can't help but be moved. But Heikin weakens the power of the testimony, not only by chopping it into small segments, but also by surrounding the clips with other material—snippets from propaganda movies, timelines, animated segments, and even shots of dancers—that are often more distracting than illuminating. In fact, the very title—the name given to a hybrid flower symbolizing wisdom and genetically fashioned to honor Kim Jong-Il—suggests the director's penchant for irony over straightforwardness. While the presentation leaves something to be desired, much of the content of Kimjongilia is still powerful, making this a strong optional purchase. [Note: this is also available with public performance rights for $129 from Kino Lorber Education, www.kinolorbereducation.com.] Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)