What starts as a talking heads documentary about North Korean defectors becomes a gripping race to safety as we follow a family who have crossed the border into a hostile China.

We visited the DMZ (the ‘no-man’s land’ between South and North Korea) when we were in South Korea a few years ago, and so I have a superficial knowledge of the tragedy of the dividing of Korea after World War II – victors dividing up the spoils – and of the totalitarian regime of the Kims. I had no idea of the real plight, though, and how much the Kim Jong-un regime resembles 1930/40s Germany for human rights abuses.

We meet defectors, often working for aid organisations in the US or South Korea, who give TED talks and try to spread the word about the human rights issues. We also meet the avuncular Pastor Kim, a South Korean pastor who is the one to call if you have a relative who has made it into China.

The problem is that North Korea is surrounded by Communist countries – China, Laos, Vietnam – who will return defectors if they are caught. We have a front row seat as Pastor Kim gets a call about a family who have reach China – parents, two young children and a grandmother. The brokers in North Korea and China will help for money and so starts a long and dangerous trek across countries, through jungle, and across rivers at night.

All of the footage is genuine with camera operators following them where it is safe to do so – this in itself increases the danger, but allows us to feel every exhausting moment. We also see the reality for a mother who defected and has heard that her 17-year-old son has crossed the border. The stories are tough ones, and the endings aren’t always happy. It’s an intense watch and tells such an important story that the sometimes overblown score can be forgiven.

If you want to help, go to Liberty in North Korea.

Director: Madeleine Gavin
Origin: USA (2022)
Language: English
Genre: Documentary

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