The Lovers and the Despot (2016)

In the cinematic landscape of 1970s South Korea, relive the gripping tale of celebrated actor Choi Eun-hee and accomplished film director Shin Sang-ok. Once married, they found themselves estranged and caught in the stagnancy of their careers. However, their lives took an unexpected, harrowing turn in 1978 when they became captives of their most ardent admirer, the infamous North Korean despot, Kim Jong-il. Ensnared in the iron grip of this notorious dictator, they were thrust into his grand scheme to revolutionize North Korea's film industry, transcending its rigid propaganda narrative. Kim Jong-il, a passionate cinephile with a sinister agenda, employed a combination of coercion and manipulation to exploit the artistic prowess of Choi and Shin for his nationalistic ambition. The story unfolds through intimate accounts from Choi, their family, close associates, and U.S. intelligence personnel, sketching a chilling portrait of their surreal servitude. Amidst this turmoil, the couple found their extinguished love reigniting, becoming a beacon of hope in their shadowy world. As they meticulously gathered damning evidence of Kim's atrocities, they were forced to maintain a dangerous charade, playing into the whims of the world's most perilous film enthusiast. "The Lovers and the Despot" is an engrossing narrative that transports you into the heart of this extraordinary saga, where love, art, and resilience intersect in the face of totalitarian terror. Witness how the pair engineer their audacious plan for freedom while trapped in the grip of a tyrant's twisted fantasy.

The Lovers and the Despot is a documentary movie featuring Kim Jong-un and directed by Robert Cannan.

The Lovers and the Despot is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on DistroTV, Kanopy, Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi TV and VUDU Free and it's also available on Hoopla and Magnolia Selects.

It is also possible to buy The Lovers and the Despot on Amazon Video, Apple TV, FlixFling, Google Play Movies, Redbox, Vudu and YouTube.