Defilada

A very good example of (so called) Polish school of documentary. Andrzej Fidyk is showing how intense cult of personality could be. Background of the story is 40th anniversary of proclamation of Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Movie focuses on Kim Ir Sen's memorials, monuments dedicated to him, and, of course, on a splendid parade dedicated to his great person.

The movie itself is almost clinical, camera takes clean, long shots with a bit of something I would call inhuman look. Watching this movie is like peeping on alien civilization, so different from the Western standards. Narration consist only of quotes from Korean books and newspapers and is full of such pearls like "our beloved leader" and "his knowledge enlightened us". There is no external commentary on presented facts, what gives the feeling like watching National Geographic documents on coral reef.

For a Polish viewer - a cult classic. For Westerners - a perfect vision about communist propaganda and cult of personality. Definitely a must see for everyone interested in this subject. Unfortunately, copies of this document are practically unable to find.