io9 
Jan 14, 2008 2:20 PM
3,576
A giant iron-eating bull takes on an army of slave laborers in Pulgasari, the most famous North Korean movie ever. Kim Jong-Il, now the country's dictator, kidnapped South Korean director Shin Sang-Ok and his wife, actress Choe Un-Hee. Kim kept them prisoner in North Korea for years, and forced them to make this movie, about a monster that champions the peasants against the tyrant king. The movie attained cult status in Japan. Another clip after the jump.
A giant iron-eating bull takes on an army of slave laborers in Pulgasari, the most famous North Korean movie ever. Kim Jong-Il, now the country's dictator, kidnapped South Korean director Shin Sang-Ok and his wife, actress Choe Un-Hee. Kim kept them prisoner in North Korea for years, and forced them to make The plot of Pulgasari is weirdly a metaphor for the history of 20th century communism. The big cow-monster does save the peasants from feudal tyranny, but then he tries to consume all their natural resources and ruin their industry. I love all the peasants scrambling to haul more iron over for him to eat. Finally, they're forced to destroy the monster that saved them. You have to wonder if Kim still watches this movie for inspiration.
The plot of Pulgasari is weirdly a metaphor for the history of 20th century communism. The big cow-monster does save the peasants from feudal tyranny, but then he tries to consume all their natural resources and ruin their industry. I love all the peasants scrambling to haul more iron over for him to eat. Finally, they're forced to destroy the monster that saved them. You have to wonder if Kim still watches this movie for inspiration.
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