Hi everyone. This channel is growing at an unexpected rate. Thank you for all the support! I also realized that KZread doesn't notify me on comments anymore. So if you have questions, suggestions or just want to chat, you can contact me at Twitter (@AccentedCinema) or Facebook (/AccentedCinema)

@atmark666

5 жыл бұрын

south Korea has similar movies. especially animation. kzread.info/dash/bejne/ppOqxNmGlbOdo8Y.html Taekwon V is very popular robot fighting anime. and most south korean think japanese stole its design. mazinger Z

@nowhereman6019

5 жыл бұрын

Seems like the Chinese movie video took off and brought us all here.

@walangchahangyelingden8252

3 жыл бұрын

It's a dictator replace another dictator world.

@JosephOliver-th9se

9 ай бұрын

Pulgasari will be perfect f Legendary add him in the Monsterverse as a Titan from Hollow Earth.

lil pulgasari is kinda cute lmao

@kidyomu89

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah, then it turned into Satanzilla

@three33three33

4 жыл бұрын

He do be lookin kinna fresh doe

@goed1adit

4 жыл бұрын

Just don't feed it too much iron so they keep smol.

Hello. I am from South Korea. It is an interesting video. I knew that this film existed but have never thought someone would care about it. I liked the story of Bulgasari from when I was a little kid, it is an old tale in Korea, we don't know exactly when it was made. There are quite different versions of this story, and what I read was Bulgasari born by poor farmer family that couldn't have a child. Bulgasai was made from rice. When it got life as the farmer family prayed for, it started eating needles to utensils, it soon becomes bigger and bigger, it eats all the iron pot and farming equipments of the village, getting even bigger and bigger. The Bulgasai leaves the home for one day at first to look for iron. Next, two days. Later, a week. Bulgasari was sad but had to leave the house as it got too big and not enough to eat. One day, the north barbarians invades the village, stealing and killing people. Bulgasari appears and eats up all the weapons of the Barbarians and saves the village. Bulgasari, which had been hated by the villagers become a hero. However, the king hates the Bulgasari, and makes a plan to kill it. The army ties the old farmer lady(I am pretty sure the old man was too old and died) on the tree and set up fire all around it. As always, Bulgasari appears from nowhere. It is not afraid. But when it goes in the fire, it soon notices that its body is melting, and getting smaller and weaker. Bulgasari knew it but to save the old lady, it goes in the fire, carries her out, and flees far away. The word 불가사리 which is Bulgasari in Korean, means it cannot get killed or can only get killed by (불)Bul, which varies its meaning between fire or power of Buddha. Fire seems to be a common version, but there are many other versions too. The movie made by North Korea seems it changed the plot. Maybe there was a different version. I don't know. Anyway, that was such a cool review of such an old looking film. I just wanted to share my memory of this old story. Also, Bulgasari is considered as a good sign, you can find old Bulgasari carving on some of the structures of palace or in Korea.

@tashajoykin5192

4 жыл бұрын

that's nice

@leevue4619

3 жыл бұрын

Cool

@Charliezard7

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info!

@SparrowNoblePoland

2 жыл бұрын

This story was filmed as a European movie as well, though cutting all links to Korea. Name of the movie is 'Galgameth', who is born from tears, and sacrifices himself exactly the same way, though what kills him is not fire, but sea water.

Actually Pulgasari aka 불가사리 is an actual korean mythology in many story books. Its name means "immortal" and its irons to get bigger and bigger, its main weakness is fire since fire melts metal and irons.

@gabrielesolletico518

3 жыл бұрын

Really?

@mockingladmockery3860

3 жыл бұрын

@@gabrielesolletico518 yeah, read a story book when i was a kid. Loved it, still inspired by it. Lots of my character designs are motivated mainly from this old story.

@theobuniel9643

2 жыл бұрын

And that tale is also why the Pokémon series references it with the Aggron line.

3:06. Oh the IRONy? Are you sure you don't make comedy films? I love this channel. Needs more attention.

@tueminhtran5284

5 жыл бұрын

Same, glad I found this channel since I relate to a lot of the eastern philosophy growing up in an asian household spending most of my childhood watching Hong Kong dramas instead of Disney movies.

@yishkabob

3 жыл бұрын

I LOLed

@jurtra9090

3 жыл бұрын

The Irony was inspired by the Hall of Mirror in Versailles

The cautionary warning about the USSR is also seen in the popular animated series Squirrel and Hedgehog 다람이와 고슴도치: In it, USSR is portrayed as a washed up drunken bear. A fallen hero figure. Where as in the past when the animal village was attacked he could come to its rescue and destroy the invaders, in this cartoon he is rendered as getting more and more drunk and washed up- eventually the Squirrel and Hedgehog (and the duck) each representing a branch of the NK military, rose up and became the charters of their own destiny at the end of the movie. Gotta say passive- aggressive North Korea sass is some of the best stuff out there.

@maxverner2341

4 жыл бұрын

I'd go a step further. If you know the current situation in Korea and how it's evolved over the years the following might make more sense. But even if you don't just think about it for a sec. As it was pointed out in the comments the titular character is based on an actual Korean legend based on a Chinese mythical creature called 不可殺 (can't be killed) or as these words are pronounced in Korean Pu-Ga-Sal. So I like the first part of his 2nd interpretation and the latter part of the 3rd interpretation. At first the monster was a desperate hope by the people to free themselves from real oppression. But then they realized they'd bet on the wrong horse. This savior turned out to be yet another despot in the form of a foreign power. So we can say that out of desperation to free themselves from the Japanese occupation they decided to seek help from a monster. This monster required resources to feed it to motivate it to defeat their enemy. Once it was big enough it defeated the Japanese swiftly but then the Koreans found themselves with another problem. The monster they relied on turned on them and held them hostage. As the video says this monster may be representative of the US. In recent times Trump is forcing South Korea to pay for the THAAD a weapon system they installed on South Korean soil which had the effect of damaging South Korea's relations with neighboring nations and also the North. Originally with Park Geun-hye the government appreciated the THAAD because Park was the daughter of a South Korean General taught to hate Korea's neighbors which worked perfectly for the US. But with the election of Moon Jae-in and the arrest of Park for corruption the people of Korea realized what the THAAD really was and what the US really was. Now under President Moon South Korea is in the process of bridging relations with its neighbors especially the North and kicking out the engorged Pulgasari. Just like in the movie the people realized what they needed. Not to depend on a monster to save them but to save themselves. (And don't wait until you have to sacrifice someone to do it.) So talk about sass. What if the North was showing all Koreans that it isn't about who they can depend on. Doesn't matter if it's the USSR or the USA. THEY need to unite and THEY need to save their country.

@gabrielesolletico518

3 жыл бұрын

Yup, the "Squirrel and Hedgehog" cartoon immediately comes to mind to me too, when he told us that Purlgasari is the Soviet Union.

@nathanseper8738

2 жыл бұрын

Considering what Russia was like under Yeltsin, a raging drunk, the visual metaphor is pretty apt.

I heard during WWII the Japanese who occupied Korea confiscated anything with iron to supply their war efforts. The Japanese were particularly ruthless towards the Koreans and I'm wondering if this obsession with iron might play a part in this movie.

@youwayo

4 жыл бұрын

Conquest for resources

@fadhilnugraha195

3 жыл бұрын

The Japanese arrival in South East Asia was met with cheers from the people who believe they are there to liberate them from the western colonization....only to later realize that the Japanese are the same if not worst than the westerners

@Cecilia-ky3uw

2 жыл бұрын

Not necesaryly maybe its a mix of most of these interpretations if you know about strategic ambiguity this is basically it so he can both criticise stuff but act like hes not because the film can be interpreted in so many ways

@nebulousblack5764

2 жыл бұрын

He brings this up in his second interpretation at the 7:00 mark.

I really wish South Korea would make a movie about the story of Pulgasaris director duo.

@solaclip

5 жыл бұрын

didn't South Korea already produce few _kaijuu_ movie?

@hendrayudhapratama1027

5 жыл бұрын

@@solaclip he is talking about making a movie about the director who get kidnapped by NK.

@thomasgarrison1088

5 жыл бұрын

The BBC made a great documentary about it: The Lover's and the Despot. Definitely check it out!

@danno0b

Жыл бұрын

Have you heard of "Wolf & Crane"?

@JosephOliver-th9se

9 ай бұрын

We need a North Korea Kaiju Pulgasari in The Legendary's Monsterverse as well goes to Rhedosaurus, Yonggary, Reptilicus, Gorgo, and Guilala.

I used this video in my classroom to demonstrate how knowing the historical and cultural context of a work can help to understand its meaning, and that every work of art (painting, movie, book, video game, song, etc), no matter how silly, can be deconstructed for subtext. Great channel!

@AccentedCinema

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad my limited knowledge is still helpful!

Pulgasari as capitalism: it should be noted that many Marxists believe that capitalism is a necessary stepping stone to reach communism. Not sure if that fits North Korea specifically, but it would match a Marxist mindset/ideology.

@indonesiamushroom

5 жыл бұрын

I wait for capitalism to reach the final level and later it rot inside

@CuongNguyen-le5ic

5 жыл бұрын

The last stage of Capitalist is where the few CONTROL all WEALTH and everyone are theirs property. It's just an upgraded version of the Local Lord in Medieval Age.

@josecat436

5 жыл бұрын

That's hilarious since the sacrifice of farming tools actually happened and it caused a great famine, but it was caused by COMMUNIST CHINA

@newq

3 жыл бұрын

It's really hard to say what the hell North Korea believes at all because Juche is, and I'm being generous here, optimistic-sounding socialist-like word salad. At worst it's just gibberish.

@muhammadabuzarkhan7450

3 жыл бұрын

The real word is communist.

"Self-reliance" >kidnapped South Koreans for movie production

Me: Can we watch Godzilla? My mom: We have Godzilla at home. Godzilla at home:

@liberpolo5540

3 жыл бұрын

LMAO!

@Almighty_Mage

3 жыл бұрын

What a racist mom lol

@Nestalgba92023

2 жыл бұрын

I don't think any Pro-American Countries (including USA) can't buy any authoritarian Communists countries in the 80s.

I NEED to see Pulgasari vs Yonggary.

@DzinkyDzink

5 жыл бұрын

Beware that in such case the Bear, the Dragon and the Eagle with his puny allies would get involved too. Maybe nuking Godzilla into oblivion in the process.

Another great video as usual. I personally prefer the second interpretation. It makes sense to me that the Filmmaker would criticize the North Korean regime subliminally. An unrelated question, do you have a favourite film or films? If so, which?

unreal to me that you don't have a bigger audience

@alpaca4319

5 жыл бұрын

A few months ago, he had less than a 1000 subscribers

@cinemapigeon4898

5 жыл бұрын

I just found this channel, and he's very new, so that is partly why he only has 16k subs. Give it 6-8 months and he'll be 100k+ easily assuming he continues making great content.

@DemonicRemption

5 жыл бұрын

@Minority119 With as many film buffs and ethusiasts here on youtube, yeah it is unreal...

@DzinkyDzink

5 жыл бұрын

He needs to cover a hyped topic that can easily be bashed. Captain Marvel was one such, Terminator Dark Fate is gonna be the next one.

@mcchilde2903

3 жыл бұрын

@@DzinkyDzink I'd prefer it if he'd do more Asian cinema, not a lot of channels do.

To be honest, A Kaiju film set in Korea or Chinese mythology respectfully. Well it sounds like an interesting idea

the most convincing interpretation is all of them together.

Im gonna be honest, Pulgasari is very entertaining.

in my opinion the best films are layered like novels, and the interpretation keeps reinventing itself to the viewers individual perspective. that's why I love rewatching old favorites my opinion and attitude changes and verys with each and every viewing

I think Pulgasari was the Revolution

@nowhereman6019

5 жыл бұрын

Interesting. It was helpful and did good at first but kept growing and becoming more harmful, taking from the people.

@Gloomshadow100

5 жыл бұрын

Pulgasari is Capitalism

@sisophon1982

4 жыл бұрын

@@Gloomshadow100 so capitalism help the proles to overcome feudalism?

@definitivamenteno-malo7919

3 жыл бұрын

​@@sisophon1982 Yes, one reading of Marxism is that Capitalism is needed to develop the material conditions so Socialism and then Communism can be achieved. Yet, Lenin (Marxism Leninism) claimed (and demonstrated) that for the reaching of Socialism, Capitalism is not a necessary happening it was shown in the Red October, where the Bolsheviks changed from a feudalist sytem to a Socialist one, until motherfucking Krhushev started it's revisionist declining.

@Petey0707

3 жыл бұрын

@@nowhereman6019 Except that isn't what happened at all.

North Korean: "Good thing we don't live under a feudal monarchy. We have our great leader who got his position from his father who got their position from their father with us underneath them and the military...wait aminute..." Funny how revolutions work.

@marcosaragon742

5 жыл бұрын

Same with Nicaragua

@cuervoramos

5 жыл бұрын

@@marcosaragon742 A bit like Cuba when Fidel left power to his brother rather than calling for elections

@marcosaragon742

5 жыл бұрын

@@cuervoramos u right mah boi

@otakoob

5 жыл бұрын

​@@cuervoramos 'Fidel' was happened to Thailand about 5 years ago, and ended up with an election... which is pointless because they already promoted their senators before the election has begun and let them have power and number) over elected representatives. Now they can tell the world that they are the righteous governor... hooray...

@abandonedchannel281

5 жыл бұрын

To give the North Koreans credit, South Korea had worse living standards back then and was ran by a military junta until 1988.

This channel is an underrated gem.

Oddly, my favorite part of your reviews is that I've owned the same DVD player from the intro since 2003. Very nostalgic for me to watch the tape being put in.

On a slightly more lighthearted and naive sidenote, it's actually kinda cool that North Korea has it's own kaiju. It makes me wonder what other nations have their own giant monsters...

@hendrayudhapratama1027

5 жыл бұрын

other country giant monsters destroy everything in its path and a treat to humanity, meanwhile my country giant monster just walk around the city causing traffic jam while singing with kids.

@mockingladmockery3860

5 жыл бұрын

South Korea has Yong gari. Which is... Awful

@dubuyajay9964

5 жыл бұрын

Reptilicus is Dutch I think.

@kenpentalow5176

5 жыл бұрын

Gorgo

@CrossCuntryFranco

3 жыл бұрын

@@dubuyajay9964 Danish, actually, but still good -- The best way to watch it is in its original Danish version, not the version AIP hacked up into oblivion.

I heard of this movie, it’s so sad they were kidnapped, you can imagine how scared they would be. I liked the interpretations you shared. I thought after you gave the rundown, that the message was a subliminal criticism of North Korea. I’m not alone in that thought. The second interpretation just makes too much sense. Great video, subscribed.

Thank you so much for this amazing video. I’m in a metal band and we are releasing a song about Pulgasari tonight. (I mean, he’s a giant metal eating monster - it doesn’t get much more metal than that, lol) This video really gave us some new perspectives on it all and we really wish you keep up the awesome content man! Personally, I believe it is a criticism of the military first policy. One has to wonder director Shin Sang-Ok felt about the movie... Kim Jong Il gave him more money and resources than he could have ever dreamed of in the south, and if I’m not mistaken, Pulgasari was the film that got them the trips abroad that eventually lead to their escape. There’s just so much to be unpacked in this one. Thanks again man!

Anyone ever notice that the movie shares many similarities with the legend of the Golem of Prague?

I've always read that number 2 is the most likely but the other ones are pretty great. And since the Soviet-NorKor split, number 1 is probably what Kim was told was the meaning behind it all was.

Little Pulgasari is so gosh-dang cute.

Starting to find this Channel amazing Content, love your take on Foreign films and overall thoughts on Cinema as a Medium, your Channel is seriously underrated.

This is one of my favorite of your videos. I've come back to it several times.

This is a great video. I like you go through each of the major interpretations posited by fans and film historians over the years. I hadn't considered the Russian one, and I find it fascinating.

In a period of rapid economic growth, there are too many meaningless movies, and we need to re-examine what a good movie is . Good job ！ ！

Great video! The only deep interpretation video of the film on KZread. To support your point about Pulgasari representing China or the USSR, you have to look at the primary ideology of North Korea, called "Juche." It literally translates to "self-reliance" and was coined by Kim Il-Sung. The idea that Kim Il-Sung believed in was that a country must be strong and independent to achieve true socialism. It makes perfect sense for the proletariats of the film to need to carve their own future without the help of a foreign superpower. I personally think for the monster to represent the Supreme Leader as you mentioned in your second theory, the ending is not subtle enough at all and it would not have been released.

Lol never saw someone interpreting N.K movies. 불가사리(Pulgasari) actually literally means 'starfish' in Korean, but guess North Korea has different meanings on this term.(I'm South Korean) By the way love your interpretation. Just discovered your channel.

@AccentedCinema

5 жыл бұрын

I got so confused when I googled 불가사리... Later learnt the name written in Hancha means "Unkillable"

@armada1290

5 жыл бұрын

@@AccentedCinema Oh it was a chinese character? Lol. Now I could understand what each letter stands for. Love your channel by the way. Been watching since I discovered 30 minutes ago.

@ShinigamiInuyasha777

5 жыл бұрын

I always wondered. You hate a lot the NK or you find them an annoyance ar worst?

@armada1290

5 жыл бұрын

@@ShinigamiInuyasha777 Most South Koreans don't care much about North Korea. They always brag about their 'power', but always step back at the key moment. We view them like an annoying brother asking for care and respect(and 'financial support'). Plus, every South Korean man have to enroll in two years of mandatory military service because of them(for my case, starting from next monday), so... Yeah. We hate them and annoy them. In the same time we are sort of a family so...we also find pitty of them too. It's a complicated feeling.

@ShinigamiInuyasha777

5 жыл бұрын

@@armada1290 Hey, we got the same feeling with Chile! In many ways we hate them for bragging of their success and wealth...only to call for help when a disaster happens. Of course i belive we are more condescending with them to the point of jokes like "There has been an earthquate, three people and a chilean died" Also for years we had to make mandatory service for them! Funny thing right?

It's clearly a commentary on Communism since so much imagery of Pulgasari shows him standing over helpless soldiers, appearing in red from the glowing flames dancing all around him; with red being the universal color of Communism. However, I contend that you're overlooking another plausible explanation to consider: Pulgasari symbolizes Maoist China more than the Soviet Union. China and Korea have a long history of warring with one another for control of the Korean peninsula over the centuries. There's no love lost between the two; Communist sympathies or not. These are two cultures that historically haven't liked each other, and both societies want control of the peninsula singlehandedly. In 1972, Chairman Mao Zedong declared the "Great Leap Forward", a cultural transformation intended to build China into a modern industrial superpower. The goal of the Great Leap Forward was to dismantle the historical "tourists image" of China as a medieval land with historical touchstones of ancient China dotting the landscape. In the Great Leap Forward, Mao ordered nationwide confiscation of all iron tools, iron ore, coal, and limestone deposits. Mao encouraged families to begin their own smelting efforts where they would combine anything metallic in backyard fires to forge more steel. Naturally, this was an idiotic disaster that set China's industrialization efforts back at least a decade. China became a global laughingstock for trying to equip their military with this substandard steel they were accepting from the public. Incidentally, the Great Leap Forward was a nationwide cultural transformation effort that only resulted in 100M+ deaths, and billions spent in trying to offset the losses of the substandard metals they were forging. Foreign diplomats living in Beijing at the time frequently reported on the deteriorating conditions of the air in the city as the entire country was suffocating under poisonous smog from all the backyard smelting forges. A US diplomat took a photo he smuggled out that counted 27 individual backyard and rooftop fires within a one mile stretch of residential developments alone! Everywhere you looked, there were dozens of these small fires burning. Despite failing to become an industrial powerhouse as a result, the only thing that truly increased throughout the "Great Leap Forward" was Mao & the Communist party's iron fisted control over Chinese life. This was when China's Communist leaders became more debauched, as well as more ruthless in their responses to disunity within the provinces. Just look at the imagery of Pulgasari here : A growing giant who feeds on iron (China), cast in glowing red lights (Communism) from the fires raging around him; destroying historically significant structures such as ancient temples & medieval fortifications (Great Leap Forward). Just look at what this must be implying to the viewer: This is utter madness. All of it. The only way to bring this failed experiment to an end is to realize this rapidly mutating monster (Mao Zedong) was never concerned with improving the lives of the populace, but was using the peasants desperation during wartime to increase his own power, and to promote the enslavement of those who brought him to life in the first place. All you have to do is 'break the bond' forged in the original ritual that birthed this monster into existence in the first place. It's a great compromise to sneak into a film such as this. The captured SoKo director who hates the North & Communism overall can make subtle implications of Communism itself, while the Kims will smile favorably on the veiled portrayal of Mao & China being a blundering goliath who can be defeated.

@AccentedCinema

4 жыл бұрын

I have considered that as a possibility while writing the script, too. You are not alone in noticing that the monster's hunger for iron (especially scrap iron from farm tools) bares a striking resemblance to the great leap forward. For a few other reasons, however, I did not include that reading into this episode. The main reason being that China, even by 1975, is never quite an industrialized country. In the film, Pulgasari is such a powerful force, being literally metal as hell, doesn't quite fit the image of the CCP army during or even post-WWII. So the metaphor only goes so far. The other reason being that if the subtext is about Chinese people instead of people of Korea, it has some weird implications. While this film was made with intention of going international, its primary audience is, of course, people in North Korea. If I was a director with an opportunity to indirectly speak to the North Korean populous, China is probably not the subject I'd be talking about. Director Shin Sang-ok's word are fairly nuance in their commentary. Speaking from a writer's perspective again, If he intended to criticize communism as an ideology, I think he'd attack the ideology itself instead of attacking a failure of one case from another country. And if he intends to criticize Chinese communism specifically, then we come back to the question on why do it in this movie. For these reasons, I find the Russia reading just a bit more satisfactory. And to keep pace, I cut this reading out of the script. But it's great that you bring it up. This is the sort of discussions I want from the comment section. Well done and thank you!

Always find these videos capturing and still to the point, you get an easy subcribe

Really happy to see this channel grow, great work!

Never heard of Pulgasari. This is amazingly interesting.

In my personal endeavors in the political shitshow of ideologies it makes sense for pulgasari to represent capitalism as the dialectic will continue and evolve. Capitalism was progression from fuedalism and the communist would argue that capitalism has become a regression and needs the sacrifice of blood to end the reactionary system that once provided a freedom turned prison.

@definitivamenteno-malo7919

3 жыл бұрын

@Dark of the knight I mean... Search for "Juche Necromancy", and see what this joke is about.

this is the best video ive seen from you so far keep it up and take more risks!

Thank you for your channel and the videos you make. It's very hard to find non-euro centric content online, particularly in regards to film

You make great videos mate, your narration is dope, you will be a big KZreadr in future

Just want to say I love the channel! I'm married to a Chinese National (PRC) and we end up watching a lot of asian movies and talking about how they differ from hollywood ones.

@epg96

5 жыл бұрын

Do u watch with sub or dub?

@SerCypher

5 жыл бұрын

@@epg96 We typically see them at theatres here in California. They're always subbed which is good because I can only speak a little chinese.

@epg96

5 жыл бұрын

@@SerCypher in my country Indonesia all foreign movies in cinemas are subbed

@SerCypher

5 жыл бұрын

@@epg96 Interesting. In the past here in the US, most movies were dubbed, but now they're almost all subbed. I saw Wolf Warrior II, Youth, Wandering Earth, etc subbed here in theaters.

@epg96

5 жыл бұрын

@@SerCypher well many people say that dubbing is gross and disgusting. Also people said that dubbing is a symbol pf ignorance

im really getting addicted to your content , I love it

You channel is a beautiful gift to all of KZread. Absolutely stunning Video.

Happy to see you did a video on Pulgasari after the mention in the last video I watched. I know this is 3 years old, but I don't care. Great video! I wish more people knew about Pulgasari.

That's awesome, I like all the interpretations. He seems like the reverse/Bizarro version of Gamera, what a cool monster. Thanks for sharing!

I’m so glad I found your channel

Hey, this video changes my perspective. I always thought that anything coming from North Korea is either silly or scary, but never good. This movie is pretty good btw.

@TheDuckyDino

5 жыл бұрын

Probably because it was made by a south korean...

@NorthKoreaUncovered

4 жыл бұрын

Allow me to introduce myself. :)

@tashajoykin5192

4 жыл бұрын

@@NorthKoreaUncovered hello there

@henrywong2725

3 жыл бұрын

Tasha Joykin general kenobi

@karellen4913

3 жыл бұрын

@@NorthKoreaUncovered right. Subscribed.

Great video! Very insightful!

There is a lost South Korean predecessor to the 1985 Pulgasari movie. It was made in 1962 but, like its somehow truer to the text and better known remake, featured a variant of Pulgasari which doesn’t look much like his actual inspiration. However, both of the film Pulgasaris are awesome as hell!

Interesting and I'm interested !subbed keep up the good work!

This is an awesome video! Thanks

Toho is basically the company that we can spot for the majority of Japan's modern movies; for making the "Godzilla" movies; and for making the only North Korean kaiju's movie about the replacement of a tyranny with another, in colaboration with a kidnapped film maker, with the sponsor of the same tyranny that kidnapped the film maker

Great video, keep up the good work

6:10 this reminds me of bear at the beginning of that Nork cartoon series thing

I'd say Pulgasari representing Russia makes the most sense since a similar North Korean production, Squirrel and Hedgehog, had the beginning be summed up as "these animals can no longer rely on this big bear that represents Russia to help them".

I've always assumed that Pulgassary as a metaphor for rebellion. The black smith's persecution and resistance have it life, and as it grew it helped the peasants over come tyranny, but it kept growing and demanding more, eventually taking the life of the very thing it was created to protect. Via la revolution, but after its work is done make sure it doesn't keep consuming it it was all for nothing. It seems like the kid of story a military dictator might enjoy.

Great vid, I personally liked the first interpretation best. The whole film was very interesting though, good find. I just came across your channel yesterday via the why modern chinese films suck video ( i dont remember the actual title) and here you are with an equally insightful and interesting upload. Keep it up guy! You should probably make your own film (narrative not analysis) at some point also, since you seem to have a keen sense for storytelling.

@DvidTheGnome

5 жыл бұрын

I just finished watching another vid of yours and realized you are already a film maker so forget what I said about trying something you already do lol. Keep doing it though :D

The monster has a cool design but damn is there a single movie with a more ironic message?

Great work 👍🏼

At first you had my interest. Now you have my attention.

Excellent video.

Great information.

I NEED an explanation on what those scenes from those movies which you didn't specify were trying to tell! Especially the Fantastic Beasts one!

That is so interesting. I knew the sung fam controlled the media. But I had no clue how long back it went. You’re very educational and I feel as if my life has changed.

Pulgasari could also be China which became a large industrial power very quickly and is an Ally of North Korea that actually saved the country during the Korean War. Also in China they actually did take farming tools and melted them down for Iron.

M addicted to ur video hoping for new video soon

Okay, this turned out to be a long post because I decided to go on about historical context, so fair warning that there is a wall of text ahead. ;) Speaking as a communist with a fair bit of knowledge of the history of socialism and socialist culture, as well as postrevolutionary Korea, I don't think it's particularly far-fetched that the DPRK government would fund a film showing capitalism as more humanised but eventually betraying those it helped. Marx's historical materialism and the idea of history as dialectical is pretty clearly behind the idea that society would progress through bourgeois revolution from feudalism to capitalism, and after that to socialism through socialist revolution. With this analysis, seeing Pulgasari as an embodiment of capitalism, or at least bourgeois revolution, is not unreasonable, and despite what many claim, Marx and Lenin are still seen as very important historical figures in the DPRK. As for the other interpretations, I don't think it's likely that Pulgasari represents the USSR specifically since the USSR was an important economic partner of the DPRK until its fall, but if we see it as a fairly light criticism instead of something scathing, I guess it's possible. It representing Kim Il-sung is also not very likely, since he was and remains highly respected, and the idea that this is something people are forced to do is, while popular in the west and with South Korean tabloids, kinda silly. Hell, compared to the anti-communist military dictatorship of South Korea at the time, the North wasn't anywhere as bad as people seem to think, though obviously not paradise or anything. To give some historical context for the film, 1985, while after the peak of the economy of the DPRK in the 60s and 70s, food shortages were nowhere near as bad as during the Arduous March of the 1990s and starvation was not really a big issue at that time. The country was still suffering consequences from the Korean War, which to this day remains one of the most devastating and inhumane wars I can think of, especially the US/ROK bombing of Pyongyang in the early 50s. During that bombing campaign, three million North Korean lost their lives, which is somewhere between a quarter and a third of the population of the country at the time. The country embracing Juche and later on Songun is far more understandable in that context, since the US still had and has a very strong military presence in the South, with military exercises near the border being commonplace (something which is controversial in South Korea as well). I think something most people don't consider when thinking about this is the profound effect this ongoing and very real threat has. Same goes for North Korean nuclear armament, which solely exists to safeguard against the United States repeating what they did during the Korean War, and there is an extremely strict no first strike policy in place. Because of all this, I also don't think it being a criticism of Songun is likely. In 1985, there were a lot of people who had lived through the Korean War, and the support for Songun is quite understandable in that light. Furthermore, the reduction of the DPRK government to a "hermit kingdom" as is common in Western media (which I would argue is an extremely racist trope) or a dictatorship under the iron fist of a single person or family is also more a consequence of anticommunist propaganda than an accurate depiction, especially if we look at the actual legal, political and governmental structures of the DPRK. I'm well aware that blaming things on "anticommunist propaganda" is something that generally makes a lot of people roll their eyes, but if we consider how this kind of propaganda has been very selectively used in the past by Western liberal capitalist countries against those considered their enemies, and compare that to how no one in the West seems to have any idea that "good" countries like South Korea were brutal dictatorships until relatively recently unless they go looking for the information, I think it's pretty easy to see the cultural hegemony of capital in action.

@AccentedCinema

5 жыл бұрын

I'll just put a heart on this, because I don't know how else to show greater appreciation. Thanks for the context!

@wwklnd

5 жыл бұрын

@@AccentedCinema Thank you! :)

@williamfontoura

5 жыл бұрын

Thats a great coment. Not a left myself but I know aome things about Best Korea, and can guarantee all your points are in place. A great example is that theres is a border with China trouh a river at some point, where is north koreans in chinese territory, and not till the few last years the region and its people had become less developed than actual China. At least they are good to their people in some sense. The yt chanel laowy 86 been in that region in one of their videos. Would be interesting to check it. Sorry for long text and bad grammar 👍

@FP19487

5 жыл бұрын

That’s the very idea of democracy and freedom, the truth will eventually brought to light. Unlike outsiders, the citizens of SK are well aware of their past dictators atrocities, learn from it and build a better gov/country. Contrast to communist in which the gov control every information within its citizens leaving them blindly trusting the rulers. Which is why NK still have internment camps and SK doesn’t.

@wwklnd

5 жыл бұрын

@@FP19487 Could you give me a good working definition that shows a meaningful difference between South Korean prisons and North Korean internment camps? And are you aware of the issues regarding discerning the truth of statements of North Korean defectors that are created by the discrimination they face in South Korea as well as the way they are paid more for more dramatic stories by the media, and are paid handsomely by the government (in excess of $800k) for information determined to be of value? There is a great article in The Guardian by a prominent human rights researcher that explains the reasons for why the stories of DPRK defectors are often inconsistent, and having read through the DPRK criminal code I can say that though I oppose the very rare use of capital punishment, the rest of their laws are better than most countries.

I finished watching Pulgasari right before I watched your video, and it came as little surprise we shared the three primary interpretations of the film's symbolism. While watching it, I reflected on how some artists just let their subconscious flow, while others are like architects, carefully designing their work even when they make something that can be open to multiple interpretations. The director was kidnapped; imagine the resentment that breeds. But, also, he must preserve his favour and act in the best interest of his survival, so he develops his way of sticking a finger in the eye of the government that kidnapped him whilst also seeming to satisfy their propaganda requirements.

Me: I want to watch Godzilla! Mom: We have Godzilla at home Godzilla at home:

Just found your channel! Love it! I've been looking for more channels on Asian cultures! Greeting from Europe.

I like Interpretation #2. Either way, wouldn't the North Korean producers grow suspicious that maybe they were investing in a movie that was critical of their government? Were they that blind?

I kinda have a feeling that this film meant to be able to create many interpretations that keep you guessing, and basically makes everyone (with their own separate idealogies) like it. Kinda like with the Dark Knight's Joker idealogy

This channel will be the next Every Frame a Painting

I like your subtle and witty humour!

I love this channel, I want more of it. What can I do to support this channel? Aside for running the ads and subscribe?

@AccentedCinema

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the support and passion! Right now, just watching and sharing the video is enough :)

wow i have never heard of this film! Amazing!

Whoa, second and third interpretation been lingering in my head for years that I wonder how the filmmaker able to slip it through.

I'd love to see this channel take on Hideo Kojima, even though he isn't an filmmaker per se

Great videos man. Glad to have found this channel, keep it up!

I really like your vids.

Good stuff!

to me, Pulgasari represents a big ass monster smashing stuff.

I have never seen the movie, but now I want to check it out.

I really like this film! I hope Pulgasari can be in a future monster verse film!

I interpreted it (or at least the way you described it, I haven't seen the movie) as like Shakespeare's Julius Caesar play. Yes, there was a valid reason they wanted to overthrow the power structure, but it backfired when they did. Overthrowing wasn't the awesome resolution they thought it was. The fact the power structure offered no benefit and that its absence had nothing to do with why the solution backfired was beside the point, I think North Korea was trying to subtly discourage revolution against the system the people are dissatisfied with by telling them they might succeed but it'll backfire anyway.

I think they just wanted to prove they can have their own Godzilla. Also given the context of course the interpretation regarding the revolution against Japanese occupation seems the most plausible. So yes, I think Pulgasari is a symbol of the revolution as well.

my first thought was the #3 interpretation and I stand by it

Do you plan to make videos about Southeast Asian movies? Or African movies?

@AccentedCinema

5 жыл бұрын

I already talked about Lady Terminator, and Indonesian movie, and will definitely talk more. I also have plans to talk about a South African classic, but no spoiler just yet :)

@epg96

5 жыл бұрын

@@AccentedCinema oh yea i'm from Indonesia

ho it Bulgasari from Chinese and Korea mythology a monster that eat metal and can't be kill. You can reduce bulgasari to size of a insect but it will grow up again.

Nice content

I assumed the third theory was the point of the film, I hadn't even thought about the earlier two.

As someone who's studied Korean studies this is really interesting.

I feel like #2 is the cleanest. #3 seems like a decent idea but north korea would not choose to portray itself as the governor, however accurate it would be

I love his origin and design !!

wait, the way pulgasari comes to be and grows stronger sounds a lot like The Legend of Galgameth, if you guys haven't seen it check it out

@gregorioguerrero1124

5 жыл бұрын

Galgameth is literally a remake of Pulgari, Shin Sang-ok himself worked on the script.

@JosephKnezovicz

5 жыл бұрын

@@gregorioguerrero1124 yeah, i looked it up afterwards, who would've thought a movie i saw as a kid was based on a propaganda movie lol

I interpret the North Korean movie “Pulgasari” as an allegory of the Korean Workers’ Party triumphing over the Japanese Empire, only to turn against its own people.

I really liked that last interpretation.