The Lovers & the Despot

"They were kidnapped by their biggest fan"

Sep 23 2016 Unrated 1h 38m
Documentary, Thriller

Hong Kong, 1978. South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee is kidnapped by North Korean operatives following orders from dictator Kim Jong-il.

Plot

In 1970s South Korea, actor Choi Eun-hee and her ex-husband, film director Shin Sang-ok, were divorced, estranged and both struggling with stalled careers. Unfortunately, both their lives seemed changed forever when they were individually kidnapped in 1978 by their biggest fan, Kim Jong-il, despot of North Korea. With persuasion and brute force, the movie obsessed Kim planned to use them to develop the Hermit Kingdom's film industry and get it out of its mindless propaganda mentality. Through the words of Choi, their family, associates and US intelligence personnel, you will follow the story of the bizarre slavery of this couple even as they rediscovered their love and secretly gathered evidence of the dictator's crimes. All the while, they struggled to play along with the world's most dangerous film geek as they desperately planned their escape.

Written by

Ross Adam, Robert Cannan

Directed by

Ross Adam, Robert Cannan

Production Countries

Netherlands, United Kingdom, France

Production Companies

Submarine, Pumpernickel Films, NTR, Tigerlily Films, Hellflower Films

Languages

English

Awards

5 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
1,114
Average Rating
6.6 out of 10
Metascore
65
Popularity
NA