Under the Sun

“A filmmaking coup.”—Los Angeles Times

After years of persistent negotiations, the Russian filmmaker Vitaly Mansky was given permission by the North Korean government to make a film about a young girl as she prepares to join the Children’s Union (the youth division of the nation’s Workers’ Party). The government had complete control over the script and locations and had their “minders” accompany the crew at all times. But Mansky kept the cameras rolling even after he yelled “cut.” Under the Sun is the eye-opening, jaw-dropping result—a documentary that Hollywood Reporter calls “sinister and surreal…a real-life version of The Truman Show.” (110 mins., DCP)