The Lovers and The Despot tells the fascinating story of South Korean star filmmaker Shin Sang-ok and his equally famous celebrity wife actress Choi Eun-hee, who were in the peek of their glittering South Korean “Hollywood” careers throughout the 50s and 60s. At the beginning of the film a photo reveals Choi partying with Marilyn Monroe, giving the audience a peak into the glamorous life and success the film’s protagonist once enjoyed many moons ago.
Fast forward to 1978. The famous couple are now separated and just as their careers seem to reach a lull, Choi is called to Hong Kong for a meeting with an alleged producer. This is where real life merges into an odd “I can’t believe what’s happening” mystery plot.
We discover the producer was actually a secret agent sent to kidnap Choi by North Korea’s odd ball ruler Kim Jong-il. For five years she was trapped in a villa, told what to wear, what to eat and forced to watch films in Kim Jong-il’s famous projector room. It is well known that the Hermit Kingdom’s leader was obsessed with movies and the power they had to influence the public. It appears that Kim Jong-il asked his advisors who South Korea’s best director and actress were and ordered for them to be brought to him immediately. His goal was clear: North Korea would soon compete on the international film festival stage.
At the time, Choi’s disappearance became an immediate headline in South Korean newspapers. Shin soon followed to look for his missing ex-wife but was quickly locked up. After years of imprisonment, torture, and brainwashing, Shin, finally gave in and played the part of a newly loyal asset to North Korea. Released for Kim Jong-il’s birthday party, Choi and Shin were reunited in the strangest of circumstances when they were announced as North Korea’s official filmmakers.
The couple now reunited, were stuck in one of the most bizarre situations, worthy of one of their own suspense films. They would go on to create 17 films in under two years, locked in a bittersweet position where they produced films with an unlimited budget while remaining in constant fear of being killed if they were ever discovered to be traitors. There is a poignant moment in the film where Choi recalls feeling like a factory worker, “during those two years we spent no more than two or three hours sleeping each night.” It seems Kim Jong-il even worked his famous friends to near death…
Inspired by one of their past films, and knowing that people on the outside would never believe them, Choi and Shin began secretly recording private conversations with Kim Jong-il. Once the couple had built the dictators trust they were allowed to travel to festivals in Europe to promote their North Korean films, always accompanied by guards to ensure they wouldn’t escape.
On a trip to Austria Shin and Choi find a moment of opportunity, running to a nearby American Embassy where they finally share their unbelievable tale. To this day many in South Korea doubt the authenticity of their story. Had they defected and found a better opportunity in North Korea? Or were the photographs showing the couple living a happy life in Pyongyang simply propaganda?
Written, produced and directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker duo Robert Cannan and Ross Adam (Three Miles North of Molkom), The Lovers and The Despot is destined to be one of the top docs of the year, having already been nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and Best Documentary Feature at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Written by Jade Hassouné
will definitely check this out