A State of Mind (2004) is a British documentary directed by Daniel Gordon and produced by Nicholas Bonner. The film follows the lives of two young North Korean gymnasts, 13 year old Pak Hyon Sun and 11 year old Kim Song Yun, for over 8 months as they prepare for the 2003 Mass Games (IMDb, 2004). The Mass Games, also known as the Arirang Festival, is a gymnastic and artistic festival performance featuring over 100,000 performers. It is a celebration of the nation’s socialist-communist ideals and their leaders, and is one of North Korea’s most extravagant and important spectacular.
The documentary has been acclaimed for illuminating the intimate lives of North Koreans under the highly ideological state. In an interview, Gordon claims that A
The documentary has been acclaimed for illuminating the intimate lives of North Koreans under the highly ideological state. In an interview, Gordon claims that A