Monday 19 February
10am, 6:30pm
Director Madelaine Gavin
Documentary
USA
English, Korean (English subtitles)
119 minutes
A suspenseful, riveting portrait of the lengths people will go to gain freedom, BEYOND UTOPIA follows various families as they attempt to flee North Korea.
At the film’s core is a courageous pastor, a man of God on a mission to help a mother reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind, and a family of five — including small children and an elderly grandmother — embarking on a treacherous journey into the hostile mountains of China.
Leaving their homeland is fraught with unimaginable danger — yet these individuals are driven to take the risk. Gripping, thrilling, and never more timely, Madeleine Gavin’s award-winning film embeds the viewer with these family members as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes. The result is a singular, heart-pounding, and unforgettable experience.
“Being able to experience the escape alongside these subjects greatly distinguishes this documentary” – Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times
“An emotional powerhouse of a documentary that had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, and choking back tears” – Louise Moore, Screen Zealots