Public radio’s longest-running daily global news program.
©2025 The World from PRX
PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402.

The late North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il was the film fan. Director Lynn Lee got permission to film behind the scenes of the most cut-off film industry in the world.
A North Korean Actor films a scene in Director, Pyo Hang’s latest film. (Photo: Lynn Lee)
It’s safe to say that the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was a film fanatic.
His favorite actress was Elizabeth Taylor, he once said. His favorite actor, Sean Connery.
And when he died, it’s rumored that he left behind one of the largest film collections in the world.
He also left behind a thriving movie industry.
Singaporean director Lynn Lee was able to briefly get behind the scenes at the elite Pyongyang Film School where she says it’s almost as if the late Kim Jong-il were still directing.