Pulgasari
Encyclopedia
Pulgasari is a North Korea
n feature film
produced in 1985, a giant-monster film similar to the Japanese Godzilla
series. It was produced by South Korea
n director Shin Sang-ok, who had been kidnapped in 1978 by North Korean intelligence on the orders of Kim Jong-il
, son of the then-ruling Kim Il-sung
.
Teruyoshi Nakano
and the staff from Japan's Toho
studios, the creators of Godzilla, participated in creating the film's special effects
. Kenpachiro Satsuma
– the stunt performer who played Godzilla from 1984 to 1995 – portrayed Pulgasari, and when the Godzilla
remake was released in Japan in 1998, he was quoted as saying he preferred Pulgasari to the American Godzilla
.
stated that the film is intended to be a propaganda
metaphor
for the effects of unchecked capitalism
and the power of the collective
.
The film is based around a legendary creature called the Pulgasari. The original story was set in the city of Songdo (now Kaesong
, North Korea).
(918 to 1392 AD), an edict by the oppressive governor of a Korean province decrees that all the iron in the area should be used to fashion weapons, including all of the farming tools. Pretty soon women are wailing for their cooking pots and men are planning a revolution. The local blacksmith, Takse (Ri Gwon), urges calm, and is somewhat disappointed when his protege Inde turns out to be the leader of the revolt. But the governor's actions become intolerable, and Takse stages his own protest by "losing" the iron. His cover story is that a legendary beast named Pulgasari ate it during the night. The governor throws Takse in jail.
During his incarceration with other members of the revolt (including Inde), Takse is refused nourishment. His two children, Ami (Chnag Son Hwi) and Ana (Ri Jong Guk), throw food to their father through the window of his cell. But after they go to all the trouble, Takse fashions the rice into a little doll. The rice doll ends up with Ami.
Later, Ami pokes her finger while sewing, and some of her blood drips on the doll. The doll comes to life and begins eating all the iron it can find; the doll is Pulgasari. After being saved by Pulgasari from being executed, Inde flees to the mountains with his army.
Back at the farm, Ami and Ana look for Pulgasari. Ana eventually finds the monster and pretty soon starts declaring that Pulgasari will save them. Pulgasari, having grown to man size, helps the farmers by leading their revolt army against the King's army.
A general comes to the King's rescue, the General discovers that Pulgasari must protect Ami at all costs. Ami, who still carries water for the peasant army, is kidnapped by the riverside. The General holds Ami hostage and forces Pulgasari to enter a cage, which is then set on fire. But, since Pulgasari is made of metal, he glows with intense heat. Moments later the General's army is on the run from a red-hot Pulgasari.
The General tries a couple of other strategies against Pulgasari, including a pit trap, ancient missiles and cannons. It is all for naught, however. Pulgasari, now a giant, stomps through the King's castle and stomps on the King, killing him.
But that's not the end. The monster can't just stop eating iron. Pretty soon he's demanding that the peasants feed him farming implements. Finally, Ana is the one that finally stops Pulgasari.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
produced in 1985, a giant-monster film similar to the Japanese Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
series. It was produced by South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n director Shin Sang-ok, who had been kidnapped in 1978 by North Korean intelligence on the orders of Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
, son of the then-ruling Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
.
Teruyoshi Nakano
Teruyoshi Nakano
, is a Japanese special effects director, most notable for his contributions to the Godzilla film series and other tokusatsu movies. Nakano was a special guest at G-Fest XI, where he was the recipient of the Mangled Skyscraper Award....
and the staff from Japan's Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
studios, the creators of Godzilla, participated in creating the film's special effects
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
. Kenpachiro Satsuma
Kenpachiro Satsuma
is a Japanese actor. He is probably best known for playing Godzilla in the Heisei series of Godzilla films , but played other giant monsters as well.-Films:...
– the stunt performer who played Godzilla from 1984 to 1995 – portrayed Pulgasari, and when the Godzilla
Godzilla (1998 film)
Godzilla is a 1998 science fiction monster disaster film film co-written and directed by Roland Emmerich. It is a loose remake of the 1954 giant monster classic Godzilla. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The film relates a tale of a nuclear incident...
remake was released in Japan in 1998, he was quoted as saying he preferred Pulgasari to the American Godzilla
Zilla
, also known as the American Godzilla, is a movie monster that first appeared as the title character in the 1998 Roland Emmerich film Godzilla. The design by Patrick Tatopoulos is that of a hunched bent-over marine iguana...
.
Plot
The film is about a doll made of rice by a prisoner, which on coming into contact with blood, grows to become a giant metal-eating monster. Jonathan RossJonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
stated that the film is intended to be a propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for the effects of unchecked capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and the power of the collective
Collective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
.
The film is based around a legendary creature called the Pulgasari. The original story was set in the city of Songdo (now Kaesong
Kaesong
Kaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
, North Korea).
Plot
Set during the Koryo DynastyGoryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
(918 to 1392 AD), an edict by the oppressive governor of a Korean province decrees that all the iron in the area should be used to fashion weapons, including all of the farming tools. Pretty soon women are wailing for their cooking pots and men are planning a revolution. The local blacksmith, Takse (Ri Gwon), urges calm, and is somewhat disappointed when his protege Inde turns out to be the leader of the revolt. But the governor's actions become intolerable, and Takse stages his own protest by "losing" the iron. His cover story is that a legendary beast named Pulgasari ate it during the night. The governor throws Takse in jail.
During his incarceration with other members of the revolt (including Inde), Takse is refused nourishment. His two children, Ami (Chnag Son Hwi) and Ana (Ri Jong Guk), throw food to their father through the window of his cell. But after they go to all the trouble, Takse fashions the rice into a little doll. The rice doll ends up with Ami.
Later, Ami pokes her finger while sewing, and some of her blood drips on the doll. The doll comes to life and begins eating all the iron it can find; the doll is Pulgasari. After being saved by Pulgasari from being executed, Inde flees to the mountains with his army.
Back at the farm, Ami and Ana look for Pulgasari. Ana eventually finds the monster and pretty soon starts declaring that Pulgasari will save them. Pulgasari, having grown to man size, helps the farmers by leading their revolt army against the King's army.
A general comes to the King's rescue, the General discovers that Pulgasari must protect Ami at all costs. Ami, who still carries water for the peasant army, is kidnapped by the riverside. The General holds Ami hostage and forces Pulgasari to enter a cage, which is then set on fire. But, since Pulgasari is made of metal, he glows with intense heat. Moments later the General's army is on the run from a red-hot Pulgasari.
The General tries a couple of other strategies against Pulgasari, including a pit trap, ancient missiles and cannons. It is all for naught, however. Pulgasari, now a giant, stomps through the King's castle and stomps on the King, killing him.
But that's not the end. The monster can't just stop eating iron. Pretty soon he's demanding that the peasants feed him farming implements. Finally, Ana is the one that finally stops Pulgasari.
See also
- Culture of North Korea
- List of North Korean films
- List of films set in or about North Korea
- Propaganda in North KoreaPropaganda in North KoreaThe propaganda in North Korea is extensively based on the Juche ideology to promote the Workers' Party of Korea line. From its beginning to this day the propaganda is omnipresent.-Cult of personality:...
External links
- First NK Monster Faces Hollywood-Born Godzilla in Japan (with synopsis and images) at The People's Korea
- N Korean movies' propaganda role. BBC.
- Goo Movies (Japanese)