Beyond Utopia is now available on digital platforms and Dogwoof On Demand.
Nominated at the 2024 BAFTAs for Best Documentary
★★★★★ “Gripping” – Eye for Film
★★★★ “Outstanding” – The Guardian
★★★★ “Astonishing” – The Times
★★★★ “A nail-biter of a real-life thriller” – The Observer
Beyond Utopia, the illuminating, must-see, BAFTA-nominated documentary from Madeleine Gavin (City of Joy) uses hidden-camera footage to track the perilous, high-stakes journey undertaken by North Korean defectors to escape oppression. Gavin’s suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom follows various individuals as they attempt to flee one of the most oppressive places on Earth, a land they grew up believing was a paradise.
At the film’s core is a mother desperate to reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind; a family of five — including small children and an elderly grandmother — embarking on a treacherous journey into the hostile mountains beyond their border; and a man of God on a mission to help these desperate souls. Gripping, visceral, and urgent, Beyond Utopia immerses the viewer in these family members’ perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes.
Follow Us