A Family Bright with Songs
Director: Im Chang-bom,
Chang In-hak
Year: 2011
Rating: 5.0
Country: North Korea
North Korea has
gone song crazy in this colorful musical. Yup, a North Korean musical extolling
the virtues of hard work and socialism. This is actually rather fun in an
old fashioned way. It feels and looks like it was made 60 years ago rather
than in 2011. Except for the language, this would fit nicely into the Hong
Kong Cathay catalog. Middle-class Korean working family with a nice home,
plenty to eat and lots of entertainment! All these stories we hear of starving
miserable North Korean citizens must be Western propaganda! They go on picnics,
have song recitals, dance gatherings and sing all day long. And the men have
such manly laughs and the women blush a lot. What a life.
The tunes are not bad. Not exactly rock
music but easy to listen to and the lyrics are worthy of a Broadway show.
How about this one "We're the socialist builders. In response to the Leaders
call, we're advancing towards paradise." If that one doesn't grab you, there
is this, "A love formed in labor inspires great feats. A loyal mind becomes
the wealth of the Motherland". And there is one about the loving smile of
the Leader. Sure fire hits.
The story revolves around building a large
ship to go fishing "for the benefit of the people". But they are falling
behind the target date and the Manager is worried that too many workers are
singing while they work. Especially the lovely Son Ok who is distracting
Comrade Jong Hak from inventing a better welder. Lots of family interplay
as they form a group to sing at a National Competition. The Manager comes
to realize that people work best when they can sing. And the ship sails away
to get those fish. Another happy day in the DPRK.
