Crossing (2008) User Reviews

Sad plight of many North Koreans.

[john-3798 · 8/10 · 22 January 2009]

I saw this in Korea over the summer (2008) at a special preview screening with English subtitles.

It is a very powerful story that aims to depict the plight of ordinary North Koreans in the face of sickness, hunger, poverty, oppression and, inevitably, fear. The production is excellent, and the storyline is very believable - well, it is based on real events! In fact, you'll find many of the topics covered in documentaries made on N. Korea over the last 10 years - particularly those that include secretly shot footage smuggled out of the country. While there are elements of sentimentalism, it isn't overdone as it is in many Korean movies.

However, there were a couple of minor annoyances:

1. The bible cropped up early enough in the film, and I thought: "Oh no, the director is going to spin some pro-Christian message later on", but while this thread is returned to later in the movie, it is pretty much left hanging.

2. The makers of this film couldn't resist making the main character a a former footballer (soccer player) of some repute. This was totally unnecessary and distracted somewhat from the credibility of the content. This needed to be a movie with ordinary characters in what is simply an extraordinary, but common, predicament.

Nevertheless, despite these small annoyances, the film gets across its main tenet, and should leave no viewer unmoved.

Superb sadness

[roxieandjjroco · 9/10 · 14 January 2009]

Just saw this film at the PSIFF and was on the verge of sobbing. While I didn't forget how fortunate we have it in the U.S. compared to much of the world, this not-so-gentle reminder of just how bad things are in other parts wrenched my heart. Beautiful cinematography in such an otherwise ugly backdrop and overall "setting." Outstanding acting performances support a movie of consistent pace and passionate portrayals. As I'm trying not to provide spoilers, let me just say you might consider bringing a handkerchief and you will likely go home to hug your young kids (if you have any) once the movie is over. Should this win the best foreign picture Academy Award, it would be no surprise. Solid film making techniques with subject matter that will stir even the most stoic souls.

Up there with Grave of the Fireflies

[johnnyrj · 8/10 · 7 January 2014]

Having read Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden and The Aquariums of Pyongyang by Chol-hwan Kang & Pierre Rigoulot, I was very interested in finding a movie that dealt with the unfortunate realities of modern day North Korea as is detailed in the aforementioned books. I was not disappointed.

Keurosing is a look at a grim reality that most people would rather just ignore. It's a dark, depressing journey. Anyone who has seen Grave of the Fireflies will know what I'm talking about. The movie is well directed and the acting is very good. I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in North Korea and has read any of the books I've previously mentioned.

Life is unforgiving

[andrejvasiljevic · 10/10 · 7 February 2011]

I'm not a person who usually sheds tears for a movie, or weeps in general for that matter, but man I cried a river after seeing "Crossing". It really makes you wonder how can life be so tough. Unfortunately, it can and though this is an extreme example, way too many people have to go through such injustice and sorrow.

Story - the toughest you can find. Acting - brilliant. Directing - excellent. But the thing that hits you right in the forehead is the reality. It made me project myself into the poor soul of a simple man, whose life is not much more than a non stop struggle for survival, and then such a simple, tiny joy like a summer shower makes you happy and brings a smile to your face. Even in the toughest times life is about little things and it does make you appreciate all that you have.

The mark is 10, and even that's way too low for what this brilliant title made me feel. Good job.

Heavy movie

[shi612 · 10/10 · 24 September 2010]

This is a "heavy" movie.

The plights of the North Korean society and homes depicted here is something you can not believe your eyes, but from many documents such as the reports from those who have escaped from there, we can imagine the movie scenes are close to reality. This is the country of complete oppression. In 1960's we saw North Korea as a poor but hopeful country. In fact, many Koreans living in Japan returned to North Korea to join the building of "paradise on earth". But since then, the country kept going downward. Nowadays they are isolated at the dead end. The reason why such country still survives is that by giving people at the power side extreme privilege, so that they want to keep the regime made of fictions.

In such a country there is a family of the father, once a hero of soccer team, and his loving wife, and their son who likes soccer too. The atmosphere of the family which is poor but tied with love emphasizes how loveless the country is.

In fact, looking at the officials of the camp or boarder security, I could not help wondering if it is possible for the same human being become arrogant and cruel like this. I feel some sense of impotence, because I can do nothing to the situation close to my country.

This movie focuses on the fate of a family. This is beyond a propaganda movie to accuse North Korea, nor to glamorize the rescue group. This portrays the dignity of human being.

not perfect, but important

[thekimchicure · 10/10 · 24 April 2009]

Initially, I agreed with one of the previous comments about the "ex-football star" background of the protagonist. The tidbit seemed cheap, unreal, and less authentic. The more I thought about it though, I suspect that the choice was made for two reasons: 1) to make the protagonist appeal to the rest of world, especially South Koreans, by creating this common interest (football/"soccer"). I think the world has a hard time relating to North Koreans. Americans and some South Koreans have this phobia of communist countries. Furthermore, North Koreans have been in a hermit state for a very long time. Very little is known or seen of the North Korean citizens themselves. The football thing was a simple way of making people realize that North Koreans are human beings, and in some ways they're just like us. 2) to show that the protagonist was not against the North Korean government. Well, at least not outwardly. I think this film did a good job of staying away from direct commentary on the N.K. government. Yes, the film paints the government in a bad light at times. That really can't be helped, as many of the scenes are based on true accounts. However, not once does the protagonist start ranting about how his government failed him. While there is heavy censorship in North Korea to speak against the government, the film could have had the protagonist 'think' these thoughts or discuss them safely with his family-- but it didn't. The main problem that the protagonist faces-- and that many North Koreans face-- is not that he resents his government (although, we like to think North Koreans do). His problem is that his family is starved, sick, and unable to find help in a country that lacks resources.

For those two points, I have to applaud the film. I think it made a sincere effort to do what's best for the cause-- North Korean Human Rights-- and not just focus on what's best for the art.

If anyone is interested in learning about how they can help, you can search the web for The Chosun Journal, U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Liberty in North Korea, or Amnesty International's page on North Korea. Like any cause, donations are very important. But unlike most causes, I think the biggest challenge for N.K. Human Rights is that most of the world (and concerning, most South Koreans) ignores it. I hope this film succeeds in bringing more awareness to the plight of the suffering.

a movie evoking the attention to North Korean human rights

[forrest-bao · 10/10 · 31 December 2008]

This is a very moving movie about human rights and family relation. The North Korean government is so cruel to their citizens. The father in the movie escaped to China just for buying medicines for his wife. But, his wife died due to the short of health care. His son escaped to China after that. But he didn't make it, right before he could see his father. If I was that father, I would be crazy. He left home in the hope to save his wife's life. But actually, he made his wife died and his son tortured in the labor camp of North Korea and died on the way to find him. So sad.

I am very glad to see so many international organizations helping those North Korean refugees to escape. How can I reach some of those? I wanna donate money to them.

I suggest Chinese government to accept those refugees rather than deport them back to North Korea. They will be killed! I also don't agree with current US ways on treating Mexican illegal immigrants. They are just so desperate. They are hungry. They just need the basic level of life.

There is a saying, "Save one life, save the entire world", which is said at the end of the Schindler's list. There is no excuse to forget them. If we can do it, then do it!

Awesome, Gut-wrenching, Haunting - Definitely worth it!

[lajetee_kawthoolei · 10/10 · 4 March 2011]

I happened to be invited to a human rights event where the people were showing this film. Originally I wanted to see it because it was about the extreme human rights violations in North Korea. I'll tell you, this film has such great performances and such a profound soul, that you just can't help crying/balling. Well-acted, well-edited, well-paced, it never lets you off the hook. South Korea's leading actor In-Pyo Cha plays the father in what is essentially a father-son tale played out in exquisite but heart-wrenching detail. If you're into stories that express the fullness of human experience this is one worth experiencing. It will haunt you and alter your perception of freedom and everything else you hold dear. I read someone's complaint on here that the father should not have been a soccer/football star... but that's such a pointless criticism for the sake of criticism. WATCH IT!!

an inept attempt to depict life in North Korea

[denpolites · 2/10 · 9 December 2014]

Life in North Korea is far from easy. The political situation is devastating, with a combination of lack of democracy and a very difficult economical situation. This could've permitted a skillful director to shoot a film that criticizes all these things. But the film fails to be realistic and it seems like a pure propaganda. Let me explain it: the regime is depicted using unnecessary violence, as if all the officers are villains by nature, and enjoy torturing poor people, especially little kids. The buildings looks like two centuries ago. Social care simply doesn't exist at all. All we see is soldiers who oppress, and misery. This exaggeration backfires, it is simply unconvincing. Technically the film is not better. The main characters are caricatures. The acting and the direction are awful, the story is not at all convinsing. It is very strange that the IMDb rating is so high...I cannot recommend this film, it reminds me some blockbusters shot during the Cold War...

Thrilling suspense over a seemingly simple sad story

[sergeimontoya · 10/10 · 26 July 2016]

I don't usually weep, but this one hits me and i haven't weeped since the other infamous Korean movie Hello Ghost.

To conclude simply over my summary, movie wise, North korean struggle movie had seemed to be a cliché at the Korean movie industry. It really sounded simple, a family has struggling to live at NK, problem comes out, family separated in order to search for hope that seems impossible at North Korea, etc etc

But after execution, its way more different than what i expected, the synopsis and movie descriptions are too simple to describe it that you have to watch it yourself. You feel their pain, their sorrow, their hope, their life trip along the movie, even with the simplest details and scenes.

==contain spoiler== I really expected this to be one of those movie attmepting to give u a cheap tearjerker and ends up with a happy ending. But after the movie progress, even if the boy made it to his father, a happy ending would've still give this movie a good rating and won't break themselves as a cliché ending, i would've been way more glad if the boy survived. But no, this movie reminds us the harsh cold truth, that there are a lot of people who had high hopes, they've seen the lights at the end of the tunnel , even many times. But at the end, even when things seemed to be able to get a happy ending, it ended terribly, and all those hopes were nullified to 0 at an instance. I didn't see that ending coming.