"Crossing the Line" tells of four American servicemen who defected to North Korea, with an . BEST DOCUMENTARY - Social and Political Issues - 2005 ATOM Awards (Australian Teachers of Media). However, it did. For nearly 40 years their life was. CROSSING THE LINE is the third feature length documentary by VeryMuchSo Productions, the team that produced the RTS award-winning the game of their lives (four awards in total plus two Grierson nominations, one British Independent Film Awards nomination) and the acclaimed a state of mind (broadcast UK June 7th 2004 and . Its fraught history is explained well in the film when it chronicles the Korean War and the societal perception of the United States. In conclusion. Like most Australians, they have never been exposed to li Read all'Crossing the Line' follows the journeys of two young medical students, Amy and Paul, who leave their safe middle class homes and university behind to be thrust into the harsh reality of everyday life on Mornington Island. Crossing the Line lacks the clean through-line that A State of Mind was born with, but its sprawl is part of its appeal. The highest compliment I can pay Crossing the Line is that it serves as a vital journal of an important time in recent North Korean affairsand that the production of this documentary would make for a highly intriguing feature film one day. Crossing the line [video recording]. Therefore. Is this your listing? Washington, DC 20036 Its a story of defection, kidnap, love, and political intrigue, all set and captured in the most secret and inaccessible country on earth: North Korea. c. Project-specific support provided through Screen Australia's P&A Program only. Like most Australians, they have never been exposed to life in a remote Indigenous community. In Episode Two, Crossing the Line, undercover agents take on the gangs in the 1980s and the programme hits the headlines for all the wrong reasons.A shocking series which goes behind the headlines to find out what it is really like to work as an undercover agent. Undercover, a three part docume. He has now lived for 44 years in Pyongyang, capital city of North Korea, one of the most deeply anti-American societies in the world. Chaoyang District, Orphaned at 14, Olympic hurdler at 18, crack cocaine addict at 22, world number one at 25, and finished at 30, this documentary explores the fine line between greatness and addiction. It is well known that North Korea would abduct citizens of other countries and force them to start families inside the country. Email me when people comment on this article, Online responses are no longer available. One supervisor cautions Paul against building up an expectation that youre going to make a change. Similarly. He is one of only six American soldiers ever to have voluntarily turned themselves over to the Communist regime after the Korean War, and, today, the last one remaining inside. (202) 332-0982 Crossing the Line, which was narrated by actor Christian Slater, was nominated for the Grand Jury . Should he? Crossing the Line 2004 Documentary | 56mins | Completed When two young non-Indigenous medical students go to work in a remote Aboriginal community their professional precepts and personal ideas are deeply challenged. CROSSING THE LINE follows the journeys of two young medical students, Amy and Paul, who leave their safe middle class homes and university behind to be thrust into the harsh reality of everyday life on Mornington Island. Do not cross the line - if you do then in the editing suite your editor will be cutting to avoid your errors, rather than cutting to maximise your drama. It reminds us that there are still many stories to be told about North Korea, and that any life inside this Hermit Kingdom is not as self-contained as we might assume. After arriving at the Mornington Island Community Hospital, life expands for the two students. The first Western interview with Comrade Joe, James Joseph Dresnok, an American soldier who defected to North Korea in 1962 and has embraced life in the secret state ever since. Firstly. At one time, there were four Americans living in North Korea. The series follows individuals who seek abortion services and the heroes who help along the way. Screen Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country. She weeps with the people, wrestling with the meaning of her Christian faith as she listens to stories of missionaries who removed children from their families and disciplined the people. Teaching English at Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, he was the subject of the film Crossing the Line ", Last edited on 15 December 2022, at 00:20. The film was the winner of the prize for Best Documentary about Social and Political Issues at the 2005 ATOM (Australian Teachers of Media) Awards . With Damion Cruzz, Bruce Cumings, James Joseph Dresnok, Charles Robert Jenkins. The video examines whether this advice is realistic and how adequately prepared they are for this culturally shocking experience. It's very gratifying to know that the film encourages discussion and debate about such complex issues, makes me feel like I've done my job! North Korea as a setting offers artists so much enigma and drama because the country itself is larger than life. It was first screened in 2007 on the BBC. Each man left his Southern border post in the demilitarised zone the DMZ, a 2.5 mile wide patch of land that splits the Korean peninsula in half and is the most heavily fortified area on earth, packed with 2.5m land minesand walked into an alien world. James Dresnok: Oh, don't even talk about it. 'Crossing the Line' follows the journeys of two young medical students, Amy and Paul, who leave their safe middle class homes and university behind to be thrust into the harsh reality of eve Read all'Crossing the Line' follows the journeys of two young medical students, Amy and Paul, who leave their safe middle class homes and university behind to be thrust into the harsh reality of everyday life on Mornington Island. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. CROSSING THE LINE is now available on DVDFind out more about Koryo Tours on our website and social media:Website | https://koryogroup.com/Blog | https://koryogroup.com/blogFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/koryotours/Instagram | koryotours (https://www.instagram.com/koryotours)Twitter | @koryotours (https://twitter.com/KoryoTours) It's rewarding to know that the film continues to be used widely amongst Indigenous and mainstream organisations to explore the complexities of grappling with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues and Aboriginal people's responses to outsiders. In the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, four US soldiers defected to North Korea. Like most Australians, they have never been exposed to life in a remote Indigenous community. - Sacha Molitorisz, TV Previews, The Sydney Morning Herald. 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The background score is also prone to slight sensationalism, which is disappointing considering the maturity displayed in the same aspect by Gordon earlier. 2021 Koryo Studio. If you would rather just drop us an email please send to Simon@koryogroup.com General Rules on Crossing the Line a. They're like cats and dogs! However, by 2006when this film was in productionglobal awareness of the North had increased. Since at least the 1930s, Indigenous . This film looks back on the life of Dresnok in North Korea and his importance within that regime. A State of Mind occasionally relied on the voyeuristic pleasure derived from glimpses of everyday life in Pyongyang. Released in 2008, Gordon's Crossing the Line addresses the same subject from a very different point of view: that of one James Joseph Dresnok, a U.S. Army private who, while stationed in the Demilitarized Zone that separates that country from its neighbor to the south in 1962, abruptly decided to defect. The Mt Isa supervisors, in their weekly tele-conference with Amy and Paul, perceive that Paul has crossed the line and that suicide is an issue he should not touch on. Better ways than those shown in this video would combine the wisdom of the elders with the idealistic energies of youth. CROSSING THE LINE continues to play a role in raising awareness amongst engaged students and health professionals. Beyond straight-up murder stories, investigative journalist and host M. William Phelps . accepted. Cinequanon and Dongsoong Art Center, Executive Producers: For instance. Video available from Ronin Films, phone (02) 62480851or Your support ensures great journalism and education on underreported and systemic global issues, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Given the emphasis on social capital, mutuality and reciprocity in Aboriginal culture, building on that may be the way forward. Amy attends a church service at a time when many funerals are being held for young men. Read more Directors Kaye Harrison, Rod Freedman Supplier Ronin Films It also portrays the unpredictable responses when mainstream health professionals 'cross the line' and enter Aboriginal communities for the first time. Can testimony from these cops hold up in court? At the height of the Cold War, this unlikely band of brothers crossed the most heavily fortified area on earth and defected to DPRK. January 16, 2017. When two young non-Indigenous medical students go to work in a remote Aboriginal community their professional precepts and personal ideas are deeply challenged. James Dresnok: The Foreign Studies Institute. Dan Gordon (Director/Producer) Nicholas Bonner (Co-Producer). We believe that educating students of all disciplines relevant to Aboriginal people is part of our obligation to improve the way we respond to and interact with Aboriginal people in the future. Dresnok spoke exclusively to the filmmakers about his childhood, his desertion, his life in a country completely foreign and quite hostile to his own, his fellow defectors, and his wife and children.[1]. The film is about a former U.S. Army soldier, James J. Dresnok, who defected to North Korea on 15 August 1962. Kaye Harrison wrote, directed and co-produced the video for ABC-TV, which screened it earlier this year in two parts on the Indigenous program Message stick. A tale of struggle and success, the beauty of sport crossing cultural barriers. Like most Australians, they have never been exposed to life in a remote Indigenous community. Dresnok remains in North Korea and lives with his family in the capital city, Pyongyang, and has not had contact with outsiders since his defection in 1962. 1h 34m. Amy McCormack (medical student) and Louise Roughsey, Silhouette of youth on street (photo: Paul Joffe), Hector Thomas and Paul Joffe (medical student). The existence of an American defector living in the . She undertook research trips to get the support of the community, the medical organisations and the University of Tasmania. Beijing, China 'Crossing the Line' follows the journeys of two young medical students, Amy and Paul, who leave their safe middle class homes and university behind to be thrust into the harsh reality of eve 'Crossing the Line' follows the journeys of two young medical students, Amy and Paul, who leave their safe middle class homes and university behind to be thrust into the harsh reality of everyday life on Mornington Island. The director and cinematographer, Kaye Harrison, approached me with the idea of following two non-indigenous medical students on a work placement to the remote community of Mornington island, where they would meet Aboriginal people for the first time and experience some of the complexities of Indigenous health issues. Of the three soldiers who followed our protagonist, only oneCharles Jenkinsis still alive, and he defected in between interviews with Dresnok. Directed by Daniel Gordon. In 1962 a U.S. solider sent to guard the peace in South Korea undertook an extraordinary journey, at the height of the Cold War he deserted his unit and walked across the most heavily fortified area on Earth and defected to an alien communist state, North Korea. It was directed and produced by British filmmakers Daniel Gordon and Nicholas Bonner, and was shown at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. CROSSING THE LINE is a significant film in my career as a producer. Suite #615 Crossing the line is a slight (sometimes great) shock to the audience, so only use it when this is your aim. Bridging the Gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy remains a key issue across Australia. Without seeming to consult the community, Paul and Amys supervisors in Mt Isa pull them out for debriefing a week early almost before they can say goodbye to the people they have come to know and begun to love because they have become too involved. Extremely moving yet unsentimental, this film offers a rare insight into the practical realities of providing Western medical services to Indigenous communities and illustrates ways in which engagement can contribute to an improvement in the crisis in Aboriginal health today. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Anna Broinowski, goes to North Korea to meet the masters of propaganda filmmaking. Change Focus Media Pty Ltd, 2005. He is further criticised for interviewing community members without a health professional being present to supervise him and without ethical clearance. For some people around the country, January 26 or Australia Day is an opportunity to have a day off of work, hit up the beach, or a friend's BBQ and drink to excess. b. Request an update here. Is this your listing? contact@pulitzercenter.org, Humanizing the Hermit Kingdom: Leisure in North Korea, Stories by Campus Consortium Reporting Fellows, Deep Dives: Ocean and Fisheries Reporting, Underreported Stories in Sub-Saharan Africa, Science Misinformation: Journalism in the Age of Truth Decay, Bringing Stories Home: Local Reporting Grants, COVID-19, Vaccines, and Global Health Inequities, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAMPUS CONSORTIUM MEMBERS, In North Korea, an International Film Festival Where Self-Reliance Is the Star, Pizzas, Pony Rides and Dolphin Shows: Balms for North Koreas Elite. Now, the American defector's astonishing story is being told for the first time in a documentary called Crossing The Line. Crossing the line is a 1-hour video that charts the paths of two Tasmanian medical students, Amy and Paul, during an 8-week placement on Mornington Island in north-west Queensland. Over a fifteen-month window, the filmmakers made multiple trips to North Korea for shooting. This is the story of the last American defector in North Korea, James Joseph Dresnok. If medical students are to go in at the deep end at the Top End, there needs to be strong support from a partnership of medical educators and the communities involved. CROSSING THE LINE follows the journeys of two young medical students, Amy and Paul, who leave their safe middle class homes and university behind to be thrust into the harsh reality of everyday life on Mornington Island. Captured by the North Koreans, Dresnok became the first of several American GI's to "defect" to the communist North and went on to be enormous propaganda tools to the regime of the time. Please help us to simplify your shopping experience by customising your user settings here: Due to contractual obligations, some films may not be available in your territory. Crossing the Line is the final installment in director Daniel Gordon's trilogy of films shot inside North Korea. Dresnok grew up a poor orphan in Virginia, and never finished high school. It showed Dresnok in present-day in Pyongyang (where he lived to his death), interacting with his North Korean family and friends. Aesthetically, however, Crossing the Line is busy in its graphics and editingtoo much so at timesand seems to have been made with television syndication in mind. Awakening the minds and sensitivities of future doctors to the needs and wishes of Aboriginal people makes sense if there is to be participation of each in the others future. No one knows why they defected, until now. Certainly it must be born of Aboriginal culture. If ordering please let us know the SET or PORTRAIT number and size you require, thank you Excludes Producer Offset and Producer Equity Program. It's a strange and fascinating tale, all . Crossing The Line. 56mins. It could simultaneously be a feature-length profile of one man, an investigation of how North Korea treated four prized defectors, and a snapshot of a feud between two men who have been through too much but tell us too little. They are affluent and idealistic. After several weeks, Paul encounters a young girl who is brandishing a rope, threatening suicide. Project-specific support provided by Screen Australia's development programs since the agency's inception in July 2008. Kaye impressed me with her understanding of the protocols of approaching the community for permission to film in a serious and sensitive way. Throughout their eight-week placement in this remote See production, box office & company info, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The regime had immense hopes for their mixed-race babies, such as training them to be spies. Think all things true crimefrom an insider's perspective. Eight short weeks is all they have, and their instructors have urged them to maintain their professional stance and distance, and not to cross the line. [5][6][7][8], Robert Willoughby The Bradt Travel Guide: North Korea 2008, page 39 "In a further twist, they found film fame with roles in DPRK films vilifying the US, with Dresnok typecast as an evil American and making firm friends with several North Korean film stars who appear in Crossing the Line and discussed the ", Justin Corfield, Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang 2013, page 43 "After Doina died of lung cancer, Dresnok married the daughter of a Togolese diplomat and a North Korean woman, and had a son. He intervenes. 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