THE LOVERS AND THE DESPOT

By Robert CANNAN, Ross ADAM

THE FESTIVAL AGENCY - as FEST

Documentary - Completed 2015

The romance between the debonair film director Shin Sang-ok and glamorous actress Choi Eun-hee took them to the heights of 70's South Korean society. Then they were kidnapped by North Korea, and forced to play along with a a a bizarre filmmaking project led by superfan cinephil Kim Jong-il.

    • Year of production
    • 2015
    • Genres
    • Documentary
    • Countries
    • UNITED KINGDOM
    • Languages
    • ENGLISH, KOREAN, JAPANESE
    • Duration
    • 93 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Robert CANNAN, Ross ADAM
    • Producer(s)
    • Natasha DACK OJUMU (Tigerlily Films)
    • Synopsis
    • They were the Brangelina of ’70s South Korea—the romance between the debonair film director Shin Sang-ok and glamorous actress Choi Eun-hee took them to the heights of South Korean society. Fame took a toll on their love, but it also attracted unbelievable twists of fate. The two find themselves kidnapped by the North Korean regime, and they are forced to play along with a bizarre filmmaking project led by superfan cinephile Kim Jong-il. Enduring torture, imprisonment, and surveillance, their romance is rekindled, and they realize escape is only possible through filmmaking—but the smallest mistake in their plans could cost them their lives.