By Kang Gahui and Hahm Hee-eun
Photo = Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival

The North Korean film "The Story of Our Home" (2016) (우리집 이야기) was screened at the Lawn Square at Bucheon City Hall in Gyeonggi-do Province on July 15, marking the first time that a North Korean movie was openly shown in South Korea.

The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), which started on July 12, included the special screening of nine North Korean films, under the theme of "the first letter from an unknown country." Following the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration, the government approved the public screening of North Korean films to encourage inter-Korean exchanges.

Previously, North Korean productions were strictly forbidden from domestic screenings due to special national security regulations. Even when screenings were as allowed in exceptional cases, it wasn't entirely opened to the public. This is the first time for a public screening of a North Korean film in an outdoor square.



Among the nine films to be screened, the most recent one, "The Story of Our Home" (2016), won the Best Film Award at the Pyeongyang International Film Festival in 2016. It tells the story of three orphan siblings and a neighbor who takes care of them. It gives a glimpse into how current North Korea and its people live on a day-to-day basis.

The animated cartoon series "Let’s Keep the Traffic Order" (2006) (교통질서를 잘 지키자요) shows changes in North Korea and Pyeongyang, suggesting that traffic volume has greatly increased in Pyeongyang.

The classic monster movie "Pulgasari" (1985) (불가사리) and a co-production among North Korea, Belgium and the U.K., "Comrade Kim Goes Flying" (2012) (김동무는 하늘을 난다), will also be screened at the Korea Manhwa Museum at 2 p.m. on July 18, and at 11 a.m. on July 20.

During the festival, a forum, under the theme of "Inter-Korean movies: A bridge to unification," will also be arranged to discuss inter-Korean differences and ways to cooperate on further exchanges.


kgh89@korea.kr