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Kim Cheol-Woong |
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In NC Heikin's film KIMJONGILIA, about North Korea's
deplorable human rights record, concert pianist Kim Cheol-Woong
describes the intense oppression within his home country, where
listening to forbidden "capitalist" music can result in
imprisonment in a labor camp.
Despite being from the elite
class, pianist Kim Cheol-Woong was reported and punished for
playing Richard Clayderman's well-known title "A Comme Amour" (L
for Love) for his girlfriend and as a result, chose to escape
North Korea.
Background
From a family loyal to Kim Jong Il, Mr. Kim began training at
the Pyongyang music conservatory at the age of eight. As a top
concert pianist, he enjoyed the relative privileges his position
brought him. He lost everything when he fled to China, and wound
up working as a servant for a poor Chinese family. He hid his
hands in his armpits to protect them when he was being beaten
and tortured by the Chinese police, and spent months in the
snow-covered mountains, avoiding the authorities. He eventually
discovered a church that had a piano. The church members
protected him and helped him get to safety in South Korea.
For further details about "Kimjongilia", please
click here.
Kimjongilia, a Green Garnet Production directed and produced
by N.C. Heikin
Copyright Green Garnet Productions, LLC 2009.
Distributed by Lorber Films and Peter Pan.
For
international contact Visit films,
info@Visitfilms.com
Photo courtesy of Green Garnet Productions
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