Pulgasari (North Korea, 1985)

As a departure from some quality Japanese film we've shown recently, and in light of recent events in North Korea, The Asian Movies Meetup Group is proud to show you... Pulgasari! Yes. Pulgasari.

The director of Pulgasari, Shin Sang-ok, was in fact South Korean. The late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was famously a major film buff (B-movies in particular) and in 1978 he gave the orders to kidnap Shin Sang-ok, who would direct Pulgasari for him in 1985. Kim Jong-il is himself listed as executive producer of the film.

Perhaps not unexpectedly, Pulgasari is no great cinematic achievement. It is essentially a propaganda-ridden North Korean Godzilla. In fact, the special effects were contributed by the Japanese Toho team and the man in the monster suit is none other than Kenpachiro Satsuma, who wore the Godzilla suit in eight films in the Toho series. Kenpachiro is actually quoted as saying he preferred Pulgasari to the American remake of Godzilla, but don't get your hopes up; it's probably saying more about the American remake of Godzilla that it is about Pulgasari.

So rather than a great cinematic experience, this will be a window into the heavily propagandised popular culture of North Korea.

As always, the more the merrier, so bring your friends along for a drink at the Roxy Bar and a quite unique film experience. See you there!