Beyond Utopia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Jana Edelbaum
- Rachel Cohen
- Sue Mi Terry
| Beyond Utopia | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Madeleine Gavin |
| Produced by |
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| Cinematography | Kim Hyun-seok |
| Edited by | Madeleine Gavin |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 107 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
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| Box office | $52,859[2] |
Beyond Utopia is a 2023 American documentary film directed by Madeleine Gavin. Debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, the documentary largely centers around Pastor Seungeun Kim, a South Korean human rights activist and director of the Caleb Mission, which has rescued over 1,000 North Korean defectors since 2000. The film also shows amateur footage from inside the DPRK as well as interviews Hyeonseo Lee and other defectors, such as Lee So-yeon.[3]
Beyond Utopia debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023.[4] The film was screened at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in the "Documentary Showcase" section on October 8, 2023.[5] In the United States Roadside Attractions and Fathom Events acquired distribution rights and released the film on a two-day screening on October 23 and October 24, 2023.[6] Independent Lens acquired broadcast television rights to the film, setting a January 9, 2024, broadcast.[7][8]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 58 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "A documentary that feels like a thriller, Beyond Utopia is a gripping—and frightening—glimpse of life under oppression."[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 85 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[10]
Writing for /Film, Ben Pearson gave the film a score of 9 out of 10 and found the handheld footage to be "nothing short of extraordinary."[11] Variety's Owen Gleiberman praised the film for showing audiences the "forgotten" tragedy of North Korea through its use of impressive first-hand camerawork.[12] In a more mixed review, Daniel Fienberg, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, found the film to have a tension-filled and emotional story while following the defecting families, but derided the inclusion of a "dry and lifeless" history lesson on North Korea that didn't fit alongside the compelling first-hand accounts.[13]
Accolades
References
- ↑ "Beyond Utopia! (15)". BBFC. January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Beyond Utopia (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ↑ Chan, Pfc. Seu (June 9, 2025). "Beyond the border: A North Korean defector's journey to freedom". US Army. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
- ↑ "Beyond Utopia | Sundance Film Festival". festivalplayer.sundance.org. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ↑ "The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List". Busan International Film Festival. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ↑ Morfoot, Addie (August 28, 2023). "Sundance Doc 'Beyond Utopia' Scores U.S. Theatrical Release From Fathom Events and Roadside Attractions (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ↑ Morfoot, Addie (December 5, 2023). "Oscar Hopeful 'Beyond Utopia' Kicks Off Winter Slate for PBS Doc Series 'Independent Lens' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ↑ "Beyond Utopia". ITVS. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ↑ "Beyond Utopia". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ↑ "Beyond Utopia". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ↑ Pearson, Ben (January 25, 2023). "Beyond Utopia Review: A Jaw-Dropping Documentary About Escape From North Korea [Sundance]". /Film. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (January 24, 2023). "'Beyond Utopia' Review: A Staggering Look at the Nightmare of North Korea, and Some Brave Souls Who Try to Escape It". Variety. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (January 25, 2023). "'Beyond Utopia' Review: An Uneven but Gripping Doc About North Korean Defectors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ↑ Donnelly, Matt; Debruge, Peter (January 27, 2023). "Sundance Winners: 'A Thousand and One' Takes U.S. Dramatic Jury Prize (Complete List)". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ↑ "The winners of the 70th Sydney Film Festival". Sydney Film Festival. June 20, 2023. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ↑ "Beyond Utopia". Jerusalem Film Festival. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ↑ Ntim, Zac (October 3, 2023). "Asia Pacific Screen Awards: Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'Evil Does Not Exist' Leads Nominations & First Round Winners Announced". Deadline. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ↑ Davis, Clayton (October 16, 2023). "Critics Choice Documentary Awards: 'American Symphony' Leads Nominations, Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' Lands Nod After Record-Setting Weekend". Variety. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ↑ Blauvelt, Christian (December 11, 2023). "2023 Critics Poll: The Best Films and Performances, According to 158 Critics from Around the World". IndieWire. Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ↑ Tallerico, Brian (December 8, 2023). "Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer, Poor Things Lead CFCA Nominations". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 13, 2023). "The 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ↑ Anderson, Eric. "2023 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". awardswatch.com. AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ↑ Rogers, Nick (December 12, 2023). "Nominations Announced for the 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards". Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 18, 2023). "The 2023 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ↑ Anderson, Erik (December 18, 2023). "Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC): Barbie, Nyad, Killers of the Flower Moon, Past Lives Win Big". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ↑ Merin, Jennifer (December 22, 2023). "2023 EDA Awards Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 29, 2023). "The 2023 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 5, 2024). "The 2023 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ↑ Anderson, Erik (December 7, 2023). "'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2024). "The 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 5, 2024). "The 2023 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2024). "The 2023 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ↑ Carey, Matthew (October 19, 2023). "'The 1619 Project,' 'Nothing Lasts Forever' Lead Charge As Cinema Eye Honors Announces First Round Of Documentary Nominations [Full List]". Deadline. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 12, 2024). "The 2023 Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ↑ Darling, Cary (January 9, 2024). "Barbie, Oppenheimer lead Houston Film Critics Society's nominations". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ↑ Darling, Cary (January 22, 2024). "Houston Film Critics Society names Poor Things the best film of 2023". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ↑ Buchanan, Kyle (January 10, 2024). "Christopher Nolan Continues Momentum with Directors Guild Nomination". The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (January 12, 2024). "PGA Awards 2024 Nominations: Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Past Lives Among Contenders". IndieWire. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ↑ "2024 Primetime Emmy Awards – Nomination Press Release" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
External links
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