The Schoolgirl's Diary
The Schoolgirl's Diary (or The Journal of a Schoolgirl) is a 2007 North Korean film directed by Jang In-hak. It debuted at the 2006 Pyongyang Film Festival as one of two films produced domestically that year, and was released in France at the end of 2007.[1][2] According to Radio Free Asia, the film has been banned in North Korea in July 2016.[3] On 17 April 2020 the film was broadcast in North Korean state television KCTV at 20:32 after the eight o'clock news bulletin, according to the programming guide they showed the night before for that day.[4] Later that day the film was archived in the state-controlled website Uriminzokkiri.[5] According to this, it's possible that the statement made by Radio Free Asia in 2016 could be wrong.
The Schoolgirl's Diary | |
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French film poster | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 한 녀학생의 일기 |
Hancha | 한 女學生의 日記 |
McCune–Reischauer | Han Nyŏhaksaengŭi Ilgi |
Revised Romanization | Han Nyeohaksaengeui Ilgi |
Directed by | Jang In-hak |
Starring | Pak Mi-hyang |
Distributed by | Pretty Pictures (international) Korean Film Studio |
Release date |
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Country | North Korea |
Language | Korean |
Plot
The film depicts a North Korean teenager's struggle to understand her father's devotion to his country, and to scientific achievement at the expense of his own family's happiness. Spending the vast majority of his time at work as a computer engineer in a distant town, he leaves his two daughters, wife, and mother-in-law to live in their dilapidated rural home. In questioning her father's values, the rebellious teen begins to defy her mother, a hardworking librarian who spends her evenings translating scientific articles for her absentee husband.
The protagonist realizes how selfish she has been only after her father makes a major breakthrough in his scientific research and is lavished with praise for his self-sacrifice and devotion to the state.
References
- "North Korea film hunts buyers at Cannes". ChannelNewsAsia. 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2007-05-26.
- "예술영화 《한 녀학생의 일기》 각계 반향 (Art film "A Schoolgirl's Diary" resonates with various circles)". Korean Central News Agency. 2006-08-10. Retrieved 2007-05-26.
- "North Korea Bans Formerly Approved Films Now Deemed Sensitive". rfa.org. 22 July 2016.
- "[KCTV HD] 주체109(2020)년 4월 16일 조선중앙텔레비죤 — Korean Central Television 17.04.109 (2020)" YouTube. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 18 April 2020 (At minute 2:10:15 in the video).
- "[조선영화] 한 녀학생의 일기" Uriminzokkiri. 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2020-04-18