X
  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • Icarus Films
  • 1 h 46 m
  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • Icarus Films
  • 1 h 46 m

Summary "My father says that Korea is the most beautiful country... Korea is the land of the rising sun," says eight-year-old schoolgirl Zin-mi. Despite continuous interference by government handlers, director Vitaly Mansky still managed to document life in Pyongyang, North Korea in this fascinating portrait of one girl and her parents in the ye...

Directed By: Vitaliy Manskiy

Written By: Vitaliy Manskiy

  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • Icarus Films
  • 1 h 46 m
  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • Icarus Films
  • 1 h 46 m

Under the Sun

Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 14 Critic Reviews
81
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 22 User Ratings
6.6
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary "My father says that Korea is the most beautiful country... Korea is the land of the rising sun," says eight-year-old schoolgirl Zin-mi. Despite continuous interference by government handlers, director Vitaly Mansky still managed to document life in Pyongyang, North Korea in this fascinating portrait of one girl and her parents in the ye...

Directed By: Vitaliy Manskiy

Written By: Vitaliy Manskiy

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 14 Critic Reviews
81
93% Positive
13 Reviews
7% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 14 Critic Reviews
81
93% Positive
13 Reviews
7% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Jul 6, 2016
The movie raises disquieting questions, including a few that Mr. Mansky might not have meant to.
By Glenn Kenny FULL REVIEW
90
Jul 6, 2016
What’s more unexpected is just how much Russian documentary filmmaker Vitaly Mansky is able to reveal despite, and often because of, the stringent restrictions imposed upon him.
By Wendy Ide FULL REVIEW
90
Jul 6, 2016
The vision of such severe regimentation is shocking; Zin-mi’s tears of shame and her sharply limited range of knowledge and inhibited behavior embody an outrage.
By Richard Brody FULL REVIEW
83
Jul 6, 2016
The truths revealed in this film have more to do with the North Korean government’s self-consciousness about how they’re perceived by foreigners. Here, they seem desperate to appear productive, congenial, devoted, and above all, happy.
By Noel Murray FULL REVIEW
75
Jul 7, 2016
Hollywood has been yukking it up over North Korea and its comical-looking leader for some years now. There’s nothing funny about either, and Mansky shows why.
By Farran Smith Nehme FULL REVIEW
63
Aug 4, 2016
In the end, it’s all about that little girl and how she responds to the lavish song-and-dance epic designed to praise Korea’s leader, the late Kim Jong-II. Under the Sun may seem slow and hollow at times, but her emotions appear to be quite spontaneous.
By John Hartl FULL REVIEW
50
Jul 6, 2016
Under the Sun's overall aesthetic identifies a willingness to settle for an easy condemnation of an obviously abysmal regime, while not doing anything challenging or enlightening with all the outstanding footage collected.
By Jesse Cataldo FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 22 User Ratings
6.6
64% Positive
14 Ratings
14% Mixed
3 Ratings
23% Negative
5 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 22 User Ratings
6.6
64% Positive
14 Ratings
14% Mixed
3 Ratings
23% Negative
5 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Vertov Studio, Saxonia Entertainment, Hypermarket Film, Ceská Televize
Release Date Jul 6, 2016
Duration 1 h 46 m
Rating Not Rated
Genres
Website http://deckert-distribution.com/film-catalogue/under-the-sun/
View All Details

Awards

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Latvian National Film Festival
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Hong Kong International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations

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