Kino Lorber Acquires Locarno Winner ‘Songs From The North’

“Songs From The North” is South Korean director Soon-Mi Yoo’s meditation on North Korean society. The essay film is a mixture of archival materials and footage shot in the country over the course of four years and three visits. Handling editing and camera duties, Yoo recontextualizes the cold nature of North Korea’s government-mandated image by getting intimate with its ramifications. The final result transcends borders and becomes a rescue mission for the country’s soul. 

“‘Songs from the North’ is a hauntingly beautiful film that opens the eyes and mind to the deeper complexity of a culture that is most often the butt of political jokes,” said Kino Lorber CEO Richard Lorber. “In turns bizarre and breathtaking, Soon-Mi’s work of intense observation with scant narrative proves the power of pure cinema to reveal unexpected truths. It will be a prized addition to our unique collection of films about the unknown North Korea.”

Kino Lorber will open the film on September 18 at New York’s Anthology Film Archives. More select release dates will follow around the country, followed by a VOD and home media release in early 2016. 

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