About this episode

The episode discusses the story of two influential filmmakers who become hostages of Kim Jong Il while trying to elevate North Korean cinema and plan their escape.

When two of the most influential figures in film become the personal hostages of Kim Jong Il, they have two objectives: to elevate North Korean cinema on the world stage, and to plot their daring escape.  * We're hard at work on our next season of new VSEs. If you've already heard this one, email us — veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com — and we'll recommend something else you can listen to instead! Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Adrien Behn and edited by Carmen Borca-Carrillo at Acast Creative Studios Produced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs Additional Editing by Mary Dooe Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English SOURCES + FURTHER READING/LISTENING/VIEWING A Kim Jong-Il Production , by Paul Fisher The Observant , by Ravi Mangla Michelle Cho , assistant professor, University of Toronto "Are You There Godzilla? It's Me, Kim Jong Il" [Ridiculous Crime podcast] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices , U.S. State Department Big Brother: North Korea's Forgotten Prince [An iHeart Original…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason English

Topics covered

• North Korea
• cinema
• film industry
• escape
• Kim Jong Il
• hostage situation

Keywords

• North Korea
• Kim Jong Il
• cinema
• film
• hostage
• escape
• documentary

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Toronto, U.S. State Department, iHeart Original Podcast

Books & works: A Kim Jong-Il Production, Are You There Godzilla? It's Me, Kim Jong Il, Big Brother: North Korea's Forgotten Prince, Kim Jong Il, the Director he Kidnapped, and the Awful Godzilla Film They Made Together, The Korean War

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