Synopsis:
The last strictly communist country in the world is constantly in the headlines, yet pictures are rare, for the government mistrusts foreign journalists. The film tries to gain insights into everyday life in North Korea, particularly by means of small portraits of ordinary citizens. Ms Ko and her family live in the country in the Co-operative Taek Am, one of the country's 3,200 APCs (Agricultural Production Co-operatives). In Hamhung, the crisis-ridden centre of the chemical industry on the east coast, Mr Ri talks quite openly about hunger and decline. The little town of Kaesong in the south is less depressing: it is famous for its old city centre - the only one not destroyed in the Korean War - and it is renowned as the provenance of ginseng, which ginseng master Ho tells us about. Of course, we also go to the capital Pyongyang, the "Paradise of the Working Masses". Ms Kang, a nice old lady, now retired, sees to it that the Party's decisions are understood correctly in her apartment block. With his Chongyon Choir Mr Jon, the conductor, rehearses the song "We will follow you forever" in preparation for a forthcoming day of national celebration. We even drop in on a lesson held by Cha, teacher of English, who has become busy lately, for English has become a compulsory subject at schools of higher education. Amazingly enough, small changes are taking place even in North Korea! This is also perceived by Mr Ri, director of a shoe combine, who now has to run his enterprise commercially wanting to make a profit. Finally we experience one of North Korea's most important national holidays, the birthday of the Great Leader with the Leader's Flower Exhibition and displays of mass dancing.