In the history of North Korean cinema, there is one film whose effect on the audience far surpassed the expectations of its creators. This is Hong Gil-dong (1986), a cinematic version of the legendary folklore story about adventures of the Korean Robin Hood. The authorship of Tale of Hong Gil-dong is ascribed to Hô Gyun, a prominent Korean intellectual (1569-1618). Hong Gil-dong,the film based on this tale, can be called a debut for the distinguished North Korean scenario writer Kim Se Ryun. In previous North Korean cinematography, Kim had acquired popularity as a scenarist of light didactic comedies about