Under the Sun

The 2015 documentary film directed by Vitaly Mansky, a co-production of Russia, Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, and North Korea, follows the life of eight-year-old schoolgirl Lee Zin Mi in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The film accompanies Zin Mi over the course of a year, depicting her daily routines: attending school, family dinners, and preparation for joining the Children's Union, timed to coincide with the Day of the Sun—the birthday of Kim Il Sung. North Korean authorities provided the script and supervised the filming process, aiming to portray an ideal family image. However, Mansky secretly filmed additional footage between official takes, revealing the staged nature of many scenes and illustrating the meticulous control over citizens' lives. For instance, Zin Mi's family was selected by the authorities, their real professions altered for the film, and their apartment renovated and furnished specifically for filming. The documentary exposes the mechanisms of propaganda and unveils the reality behind official façades. "Under the Sun" received acclaim at international film festivals, including the Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival and the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where it was recognized for Best Directing and received the Jury Prize.