April 19, 2024
Opinion

Film Review: ‘The Defector’

"A must-see for anyone interested in North Korean refugees, human rights or, simply in the difficulties of real human lives"

In The Defector,  Canadian-Korean director and producer Ann Shin follows a group of five North Korean defectors and their broker, 'Dragon', on a dangerous and long journey from Northern China to Thailand, via Laos PDR.

Dragon, who is a self-professed "human rights activist" (and not "some shady broker"), left North Korea in 2001 and spends most of the documentary on his cellphone orchestrating movements of refugees, or working to ensure his $3000 fee is forthcoming.

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