The Red Chapel

Director Mads Brügger, Zentropa Productions/ Denmark, 2009, 87’

Several Danish actors of Korean origin have formed a comedy group they call Red Chapel, and travel to guest performances in North Korea together with the film’s director. That is how their journey is officially presented to the authorities of the closed totalitarian nation. In reality, their goal isn’t that innocent: they want to wake up the senses of the Korean audiences with their incendiary and satirical shows, pointing at the country’s despotic politics and human rights abuses.

23 million North Koreans are ruled by their „Dear Leader” General Kim Jong-il’s iron fist. The nation has experienced famine, human rights abuses, and the malicious exploitation and murder of invalids. The film’s title, The Red Chapel, relates to the Communist spy organization, Rote Kapelle, which operated in Nazi Germany. The film received the World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival 2010.

Film trailer: http://theredchapel.com/