A Postcard from Pyongyang - Traveling through North Korea secretly filming (Documentary, 2019)
Ойын-сауық
Filmmakers Gregor Möllers and Anne Lewald visit North Korea in 2013 for the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War and again in 2017 for the Pyongyang Marathon as foreign tourists. Using secret recordings, they register their impressions of the notoriously closed country’s propaganda and their interactions with its people.
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Shot during two trips to North Korea in 2013 and 2017, filmmakers Gregor Möllers and Anne Lewald provide a rare glimpse of change in the notoriously closed country. As foreign tourists, they are not allowed autonomy or spontaneity, and their itinerary is arranged for them in advance by guides who chaperone them everywhere. Despite these limitations the Berliners find a way to register their impressions of a city lacking authenticity, a country longing for reunification and a people shaped by Juche beliefs and socialist propaganda. In a society steeped in obfuscation and spectacle, where deception is necessary for perception and expression, the filmmakers themselves must play a double role, secretly recording without permission while also genuinely relating to their hosts. By blending travelogue and espionage, A POSTCARD FROM PYONGYANG captures what happens when you rely solely on what you see, not what you’re told, and reveals what Kim Jong-Un’s regime doesn’t want foreigners to see… reality.
DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHIES
Gregor Möllers is a filmmaker, producer and editor. With his Berlin-based film production company EASYdoesit GmbH, he has been producing music videos and commercials for international musicians and brands for over six years.
Anne Lewald is an art and cultural scientist and M.A. scenographer with a focus on scenic staging in space. As concept and art director, she has been responsible for the creative and conceptual development of film and video productions as well as international exhibitions for several years. She is responsible for the script and direction of A POSTCARD FROM PYONGYANG. A POSTCARD FROM PYONGYANG is their first documentary.
CREDITS
A film by Gregor Möllers & Anne Lewald
with Philipp Kist, Dr. - Ing. Philipp Meuser, Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Frank
Camera, Edit & Production: Gregor Möllers
Script & Direction: Anne Lewald
Producer: Gregor Möllers
Director of Photography: Gregor Möllers
Camera Interviews Europe: Fabian Uhlmann
Sounddesign: Christoph Schwarzer
Sound Recording: Gregor Möllers
Composed by Cecil Remmler, Paul NZA, Marek Pompetzki, Sonu Lal, Kenji451, Valentin Hansen
Titeldesign: Chehad Abdallah
Animationdesign: Andreas Hofstetter
Translation: Bregan Koenigseker
Grading: Johannes Röckl (Arri Media)
Co-production Company: EASYdoesit GmbH
Пікірлер: 299
I’ve never seen a traffic jam in all my years of seeing North Korea footage, basically the opposite of one. Such a strange, insulated world.
@jamesonvazquez8510
2 жыл бұрын
to be fair they show the few western journalists who have entered North Korea, what they want people to see of North Korea but I've always wanted to visit just for fun one day
@Wabu_227
2 жыл бұрын
I mean only elite class gets to live in Pyongyang, so it's not strange for people to own vehicles there
@BigDaddy-vr2ut
2 жыл бұрын
The way the gov been talking about them being so poor, that you never seen any cars on the roads in Pyongyang , then this video shows definitely a little traffic (was it Pyongyang?) (I don’t no cause I never been there.) I was kinda shocked to see as many on the roads there,
@ShangDi_became_Jesus
2 жыл бұрын
@@BigDaddy-vr2ut yes its Pyongyang. Basically the only place that has cars. There are a lot of foreigners that actually live there from south east to eastern asian countries.
@denaziyaye7579
Жыл бұрын
@@jamesonvazquez8510 if you’re American we are not allowed to go, because of the Otto Warmbier situation.
" can we get some breakfast?" " no"
@rainerzufall8096
Жыл бұрын
Typical North Korean Breakfast
Beware of BUGGING devices in their hotels. Especially the lamps.
@robertsilva8097
2 жыл бұрын
I heard through the Grapevine that North Korea is looking for you I'm just going by what I heard
@TheAnnoyingBoss
Жыл бұрын
The whole place is bugged man
Awesome video, very hard to read subtitles often but I still love it. Thank you
Technically speaking the Korean war Never Ended
Super Film. Ihr habt euch echt Mühe gegeben und das Ganze mit der Musik, den variierenden Kameraaufnahmen, den Erklärungen und Kommentaren, sowie der Interviews der Professoren auf ein professionelles Niveau angehoben. Eure Film sollte entweder komplett oder als Zweiteiler im Fernsehen ausgestrahlt werden.
Thanks Gregor Möllers & Anne Lewald. That was really interesting to watch from the beginning till the end.
Absolutely amazing documentary!
Really enjoyed this. Well done Gregor and Anne.
The best documentary I've seen in awhile
Interessante Doku, großen Respekt an dich, dass du trotz Magen - Darm Probleme den Marathon geschafft hast 👍
The great film on that channel again!
The guide speaks German very, very well. He knows lots of technical terms, terms that are completely correct but wouldn't come to my mind unless I hear them because they are not spoken so often. Really fascinating. Hope he didn't get into trouble.
@zodiacUNDsyndicat
5 ай бұрын
They could’ve censored their faces Atleast I’m really worried for them
@m.3257
5 ай бұрын
@@zodiacUNDsyndicat true
Stunning documentary!!! An absolute must see!
Thanks guys!
Danke für diesen Einblick
Too bad the subtitles, when on white background. great movie though. Glad you guys made it out safe
Great film, glad it popped up in my feed!
Good job, nice work
Danke für euren Mut das alles aufzunehmen! Toll!
Die beste Doku über Nordkorea welche ich gesehen habe! Super!
The war tour English speaker gal was very very sweet, I feel so bad she works so hard to speak english and communicate with foreigners only to be forced to say all these things and not be able to be herself
When you guys ask questions to North Koreans have you considered that they may get punished for voicing their opinions the documentary is good but getting people in trouble is wrong especially just for a views
@mollyjackson4476
2 жыл бұрын
Exactly
@pianisti4562
2 жыл бұрын
That's just a rumour, no proof they would actually be punished.
@dishforyou3073
2 жыл бұрын
I agree, i'm worried for the guide he didn't even know he is being filmed. Ofcourse i'm not saying the tourist wrong. BUT i'm just really worried about the tour guide and he didn't even get face censored
@amitchell8054
Жыл бұрын
On one hand, I don't think its just for views. Its also for informational purposes. On the other hand, I feel the same way when it comes to feeling bad for the possible and somewhat likely punishment to come. The one mistake I think they made was not censoring their faces or changing their voices using a software that makes them sound like a robot or something. Sorry for the long comment 😅
@allentoyokawa9068
Жыл бұрын
@@pianisti4562 rumor *****
Sehr beeindruckend - danke dafür!
I don't believe for one second that their brainwashed. They are not that stupid. They just can't say at all what they really want to say in front of the camera
@pmlbeirao
8 ай бұрын
They know very well when to "perform", what subjects to avoid, with whom can you speak more freely, etc. Bread and butter of living in a totalitarian state.
The music in this video is stellar, just grooving the entire time. The funky music only plays during the intro apparently
@stevedarkes632
Жыл бұрын
Tried searching this and nothing. Sure this is correct thanks
@matvor1920
25 күн бұрын
@@stevedarkes632me too. Sounds like a remix track of a Barry White number
Great. Nice. Greetings from Poland.
Honestly, it was legitimately refreshing to see someone from North Korea say that the issue isn't with the American people... its with our American government. And guess what? Most Americans are sick of our government too.
@CoalMiner379
8 ай бұрын
Amen, it's amazing to me the Democrat party talks about being the most unifying side of politics and since they took the presidency they have been the most divisive in years, calling people bigots and racist in every breath, saying that white supremacy is the root of all problems in America, no Big Government is the worst problem America has, people in the United States have common sense and we know what is right and what is wrong, and division amongst ourselves is not the best policy to have, atleast during the Trump Presidency daily things in our lives was affordable and not outrageous and a half buggy of groceries didn't cost 300 plus dollars for basic necessities. Sorry for going all political and stuff on your comment I do apologize. The division and hate the news is spewing just really gets under my skin you know lol have a great weekend.
@doanhnguyenquoc4707
7 ай бұрын
Nếu chán chính phủ Mỹ nên xây dựng chính phủ như Bắc triều để cho dân biết đói khổ mất tự do nó như thế nào!!! Đúng là tư duy của những con lợn sướng quá hóa rồ !!!
@Snartfoodler
Ай бұрын
Yeah, well, at least we can say so. Although the statement itself is thankfully something to be held in common.
Wundervolle, ehrliche Doku. Die Deutschstudenten sind schon sympathisch, abnormal in 6 Monaten so schnell Deutsch zu lernen. Hoffe nur das es kein Arbeitslager für die Guides gibt, man weiß ja nie bei Nordkorea...
Der Boy läuft krank besseren Marathon als ich
It's WILD how brain washed they are. Hearing her talk about the war and crushing the US and 15 other countries all at once.... She seems so sweet and kind too....that's sad
@wolfs375
Жыл бұрын
Nu sunt deloc spălați pe creier, ați văzut cumva crime în Coreea de Nord precum exista în SUA??? SUA vor să domine lumea și să o asuprească cu taxe sub pălăria democrației și a liberei exprimări, în schimb acolo oamenii sunt civilizați și devotați țării lor!
@phanatic215
Жыл бұрын
There are people here in the USA that are just as brain washed. The problem with both countries is the internet. The lack of in North Korea, and the abundance of grifters on social media here in the USA.
@Keralasha444
Жыл бұрын
It’s not entirely untrue, the Allies didn’t win that war
@disastroustitanic8139
Жыл бұрын
No one won it was pretty much a stalemate with South Korea only getting a bit more land then it originally had.
@billybelbite2513
10 ай бұрын
U are also brainwashed 😂😂
Lovely video
I have to say of many of the reports on north korea, this one is among the best. It gets straight to the point, shows us the country without judging it too harshly.
@gregorcutt1199
2 жыл бұрын
Any government that tyrannical deserves harsh judgment
@wjs010ify
Жыл бұрын
Right, wouldn’t want to judge tyranny too strongly
@CWFpresentes
Жыл бұрын
@@gregorcutt1199 tyrannical? Kim Jong Un has less parlament power then the US president, his power is most of the military beacause they have the songun law "military first". Do you remenber when Kim jong il died and they staid almost one year without a great leader, that's because it was ocorring a election :). There are a lot of contraditions in the regime, the cult of personality is one of it, but that is cultural (and not even local, did you see what happend when Elizabeth died?), and more then undestandible when the country is on armstice and suffer a seizure of the biggest imperialist country in the world.
@CWFpresentes
Жыл бұрын
@@gregorcutt1199 You live in a democracy when there is just two partys, and they both falow the same line of political economics, very good...
@user-si6rc1zb3i
Жыл бұрын
А кто ты такой что бы осуждать слишком строго или не слишком. Ваши страны могут сыто жить только при условии что кто то будет жить плохо. Вы это называете словом демократия.
Good job. Complimenti. Saluti dall'Italia
Fantastic documentary
Intro felt 80s like, nice 👍🏽
Man merkt dass die Guides euch sympathisch fanden. Die Tatsache dass Ihr zum zweiten mal eingereist seid zwecks Marathon hat euch wahrscheinlich noch mehr Sympathiepunkte gebracht. Zumal sie gesehen haben, ihr seid nicht politisch, und respektiert sie. In jeder Doku sieht man wie lächerlich diese "Aufpasser" sind. Da wird den Nordkoreanern wenn eine Frage seitens Touristen gestellt wird vorgegeben was sie sagen sollen. Der Deutsch sprechende Guide war schon irgendwie nett, und hat die 2 Wochen bestimmt genossen mit euch zu feiern und rumzureisen. In NK ein Privileg so ein Job. Immer wieder kommt dieses Gefühl hoch, als wärs eine einzige Truman Show. Alles nur NPCs. Potemkinsches Dorf wohin das Auge auch blickt. Die 33. Etage und dasselbe Zimmer ein zufall? Denke nicht. Einfach surreal das Land, aber fasziniert die Menschen. Man möchte einfach für uns selbstverständliche alltägliche Dinge dort entdecken. Es gibt bei YT mittlerweile genug Videos davon, ohne Guide und mit versteckter Kamera. Auch geflüchtete geben Interviews, die man sich gern anhört. In NK ist man verpflichtet mit 12 bei einer Hinrichtung anwesend zu sein. Und nach Otto Warmbier hat die Welt gesehen, selbst als Tourist lebt man gefährlich. Ich hätte gern die Tankstellen und Waschstrassen gesehen.. Habe jede Minute genossen, sehr interessant gewesen.
Other than the mistreatment of its citizens does anyone agree with how the country is ran with basically a king in charge seems like they live how most countries were ran centuries ago. I'm not advocating for them I'm just curious on some other people's take on this
Can you tell me who plays and sings the lead music at the beginning please. Thank you
First of, can anyone give me the name of the intro, I tried to shazam it and no success.
the white subtitles on the light background was a poor editing choice
Danke für den Einblick. Man spürt förmlich die Sehnsucht und Neugier eurer Guides und der Menschen, mit denen ihr euch da unterhalten habt. Auf der einen Seite sind alle systemtreu, auf der anderen Seite dann doch neugierig auf die Welt da draußen. Unterm Strich scheinen die Menschen dort eben das Beste aus ihrer Situation zu machen und ihr Leben zu leben, wie überall auf der Welt. Zeigt mal wieder, wir sind alle nur Menschen und unterscheiden uns nicht.
The openIn g music was really good!! This is obviously a German documentary?? Still good! I wish it had sub titles!!
großartig!
Top👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Danke für diesen Bericht
Wie heisst der Song am Anfang während eurer Zugreise?
Thanks to bloggers, we can see the world, and the world of ordinary people can make us see happiness more intuitively.
Richtig schön die Stelle wo er mit den Studenten Deutsch redet
That country looks very depressing to me
@IXI--xWolfx--IXI
2 жыл бұрын
Because it's very depressing.
@user-gw5zp2bl3q
2 ай бұрын
@@IXI--xWolfx--IXIlike canada
@IXI--xWolfx--IXI
2 ай бұрын
@@user-gw5zp2bl3q Nein
@benzo2762
2 ай бұрын
@@user-gw5zp2bl3q😂😂😂
frightening for the guides. I hope none of them lost their lives due to their statements to these German "tourists." There might have been real consequences to those left behind. Obviously, this is an incredible video. So rare---my first extended look at N Korea.
I heard directly from north koreans, after some north korean's talked about their own government (in bad way). The next day the person who talked about it always went missing, and no one knows what happen to them up till now. All i'm saying, this video can be dangerous for north korean's citizen who give information through this video. North koreans full of eyes. Cause some people put faith in their own government but some people don't. You can see through the video, the guides 1 and 2 didn't really feel comfortable around each other while talking about government with tourist. Its different when guide 1 talking alone with the tourist about government (he feel more at ease). Cause i know they as (north koreans) can't trust each other. Like i said full of eyes.
Even the flowers love the leaders and government. Mr. Orwell would understand. Very informative video. Thank you.
Gute Arbeit. Guter Reisebericht
@rainerzufall8096
Жыл бұрын
Und den Schülern geholfen. Sehr sympathisch.
Can someone tell me the song thats in the very beginning?
In the year 2950 - North Korea: we still have the best revolutionary army in the world! How long have your revolution been going? North Korea: For 1000 years!! We are still revolutioning!
This is way before the pandemic. If this was three months ago then, Pyongyang for sure would’ve had a lot of snow
Richtig gut und richtig crazy ❤️
have to agree with most comments, i watched quite a few travel reports from north korea. that was for my taste the best and most interesting one. even it was the longest so far, i would have watched it much longer
28:20 Funny how german lecturer says about leaders monuments as the "statuen der führer". Sounds tragicomic.
I have to say. I thought there would be less cars on the road the way the us government has been preaching about how everyone is poor there and can’t afford a car. And all that other stuff.
Ein wirklich interessanter und guter Reisebericht.
@mollyjackson4476
2 жыл бұрын
German? It's really pretty
This was absolutely amazing, after reading a few defector books I am really worried for those poor guides. There will probably be serious consequences for them and their families after this :-(
@lucianoberaldo1102
2 жыл бұрын
I was wondering exactly the same thing, as I was watching the video. Anyway, it's an amazing job those guys accomplished there! Congrats!
@redpipola
2 жыл бұрын
keep reading propaganda
@kaiju2413
Жыл бұрын
@@redpipola ur delusional if you think people who literally escaped from north korea would be lying about shit like this
@ThePandaKingFTW
Жыл бұрын
@@redpipola What side are you on lmao
@redpipola
Жыл бұрын
@@ThePandaKingFTW the logical one
Todesmutig 🔥💯👍🏻
Wie geil ist dieses Video bitte?
I find the conversation about unifying and the optimism that a "one country, two systems" government could work quite uplifting. He genuinely wants to peacefully coexist and it just as much a victim of the system as a South Korean in a lot of ways. I think on paper it could work but the North would have to clean it's act up in terms of bringing basic Human Rights issues up to speed with the West if they were to coexist. It could be done...doubtful in my lifetime.
@Snartfoodler
Ай бұрын
Indeed I got a very positive view of North Koreans from this...how ironic one stated the issue is not with Americans but the government, I got the same inkling from this as well...
yeah must be rush hour traffic!
Nicolai Sprekels gibt tief einblickende Vorträge darüber. Kann man auch hier auf YT anhören.
this is so good
@easydoesitberlin
2 жыл бұрын
this a s well :) kzread.info/dash/bejne/gKl9qcGtdtSzZdI.html
but what is the problem of the word with them....i heard the other day a Russian philosopher saying that "true does not exist because true is only what most of the people agree...so if they all agree them that their true and should be let alone
Looks pretty cool too me
Its even sadder when these people that live here know that they just can’t get out of this country.
Ok now I’ve been fascinated with DPRk for over a decade and I’ve seen a lot. Seems like in the last 2-3 years, the amount of content trickling out of there is exponentially increased. This I believe will be and has been the catalyst to the downfall. I have seen loads of content and not much changes. You get an idea about what they believe And the generic things they regurgitate because , they gotta eat too. But I would NEVER have guessed to see the woman in the green shirt admit the higher living standards in the south. That was incredible. Like even though she didn’t know they were filming, I just thought statements like that were trained even out of the thought process because of the consequences of being associated with such a comment. Unbelievably cool documentary.
@locallyringedspace3190
6 ай бұрын
That part was super interesting! She was able to explain that she is not naive to the realities of the world, but in light of that, she expressed why they are proud of who they are. It was eye-opening to hear that perspective I'd assume many of them are afraid to say. She told the truth of why she loves her country because she is a real patriot.
@bicious_
27 күн бұрын
That was totally unexpected and a little shocking to hear from the mouth of a North Korean... But she and her whole family are probably dead now, for saying that.
I'm glad to see things are improving there. I really hope this country becomes more normal in the future. Thank you for producing this video, very very interesting. Now try getting into Eritrea. 🙂
@JohnnyNiteTrain
2 жыл бұрын
Things are not improving there. This type of thing is all very pre-arranged and staged by the government to try to convey to the outside world that things are normal there. Trust me when I say I’ve watched enough documentaries and videos on North Korea to know things aren’t well. Watch the Vice News pieces. Every outsider is assigned handlers to lie to them, keep them on a strict regimen, keep them from going out on their own, and to be taken to places that seem “normal”. I’ll never forget when these journalists were taken into a so called “computer class/lab” and it was like 40 people all sitting in front of computers with the google Home Screen and they were all sitting there pretending to be working on stuff and typing. And they weren’t doing jack shit. It was so BIZARRE. Look, when people are risking their lives running through razor wire and machine gun fire to get across to South Korea, you know it’s bad. Some people have tried to plow their way through in cars. One guy was shot a bunch of times but still made it. And we’re taking about trying to get OUT of their country. They aren’t stopped by South Korea. If they can make it across alive they are welcomed as asylum seekers. It reminds me of those videos you may have seen of people trying to flee East Germany into west and being gunned down for “escaping”.
@greenbongos
2 жыл бұрын
@@JohnnyNiteTrain oh okay, i have seen all of those documentaries and assumed this was the African version of the Korean debacle. Do you know who funds their dictatorship? With North Korea obviously it’s the Chinese? Same with any old Soviet country like Belarus from Russia. This seems like a different situation though, right?
Intro song name?
Мне показалось, или на 35:43 была Lada Priora? Неужели, Россия до сих пор поставляет автомобили в КНДР? Я думал, они сейчас в основном с Китаем сотрудничают и современные машины там китайские.
@user-ws3tz9hm3u
2 жыл бұрын
A close neighbor is better than a distant relative. Of course I want to use a better one. It's expensive, you know.
Again, why do you put the poor guides in a tough spot knowing they can't tell you anything politically incorrect? I've seen it from many Western documentaries and it's completely inconsiderate, knowing the nature of the regime.
35:01 - это было русское "спасибо"?
Hay quá
Interessante Frage ob bei dem Marathon auch freiwillige Zuschauer mit dabei sind. Ich denke in Nordkorea gibt es das Wort "freiwillig" gar nicht. Denn dafür wäre ja ein "freier Wille" notwendig.
45:58 What's up Baby Cakes, say you lose the rifle and we go get a drink somewhere private.
The fashion is like living in 1970s to 1980ish....so outdated architecture also.
@slifer0081
Жыл бұрын
All soviet like
He said their subway has propaganda to their leader instead of advertising posters. But our subway has propaganda to our leader, too - the almighty $.
Welche Konsequenzen hat es nun wirklich, wenn man vorher eine USA Reise hatte oder danach in die USA möchte ?
13:36 Wow, what a great answer.
I am still amazed that these videos do not seem to make any effort to disguise the people they interview..I am wondering how much trouble these people would be in with their government if they inadvertently said the wrong thing..my guess is the North Korean security monitors these videos..
@TheAnnoyingBoss
Жыл бұрын
He's only allowed to go where the guide will let him go. So they know even if he's secretly filming he's not filming anything they haven't already pre-approved for them to see for the most part
@trebor2620
Жыл бұрын
@@TheAnnoyingBoss Are you saying that the people he is interviewing are actually staged actors working for the government and therefore will not see any repercussions for what they say? If that is the case and their families and the actors are not in real danger and I guess no need to disguise.
So schön dort.
Great documentary, and as a German I am happy these people took this work so seriously (Germans tend to do that) but remained very friendly trying not to judge people. What I know from listening to defectors though, is that all this is just in the capital and in ghe rural areas people are literally starving.
Best ever documentary about North Korea Congratulations!
Interessant dass ihr einen Deutschsprechenden Reiseführer gefunden habt
The country has recovered incredibly well the last five years. And no, I’m not talking about pyongyang only
ich liebe wie sauber schaut NK
Was ein schöner Reisebericht. Ich hoffe das ich noch Gelegenheit bekomme selbst nach Nord Korea reisen zu können.
You know I bet the guide got into a lot of trouble because this managed to escape him. I bet he's paid a heavy price. Thanks Hanz.
@Snartfoodler
Ай бұрын
Weird to blame him instead of the regime lol
I wonder how many of those people and to what degree have the thoughts of “what if this is all BS and North Korea isn’t really the best country in the world and Kim isn’t a perfect being”.
@user-gw5zp2bl3q
Ай бұрын
All of them . They are just scared to preach it
Why was this posted? Couldn’t the people in this video be harmed
toll
The big building in nort Korean And the street look soft
Welcome to Soviet Union, circa 1950's
"We smash it" LMAO