Due to its strict laws and ridiculous secrecy, not many people have seen what life is like in North Korea. Not many people are able to travel freely to and from the country. So, you can only imagine what it’s like for the citizens of the communist dictatorship to attempt an escape, as seen in the upcoming documentary, “Beyond Utopia.”
As seen in the trailer, “Beyond Utopia” shows what lengths folks will go to try to flee North Korea. The film features footage taken by the people involved, as we see both sides of the situation—those trying to escape and their families and loved ones outside of North Korea trying to broker a safe journey. The film debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where it took home the Audience Award for a doc.
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“Beyond Utopia” debuts in theaters for a special two-night screening on October 23 and 24. A nationwide release will follow. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
A suspenseful, riveting portrait of the lengths people will go to gain freedom, BEYOND UTOPIA follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on Earth, a land they grew up believing was a paradise. At the film’s core is a courageous pastor, a man of God on a mission to help a mother reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind, and a family of five — including small children and an elderly grandmother — embarking on a treacherous journey into the hostile mountains of China and through southeast Asia. Leaving their homeland is fraught with unimaginable danger — yet these individuals are driven to take the risk. Gripping, thrilling, and never more timely, Madeleine Gavin’s award-winning film embeds the viewer with the subjects as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes. The result is a singular, heart-pounding, and unforgettable experience.