French
DeutschCrossing the Line (2006 film)
| Crossing the Line | |
|---|---|
 Region 1 DVD | |
| Directed by | Daniel Gordon Nicholas Bonner |
| Written by | Daniel Gordon |
| Produced by | Daniel Gordon |
| Narrated by | Christian Slater |
| Cinematography | Nick Bennet |
| Edited by | Peter Haddon |
| Music by | Heather Fenoughty |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Languages | English Korean |
| Box office | $9,258 (USA) |
Crossing the Line (Korean: 푸른 눈의 평양시민, A Blue-Eyed Pyongyang Citizen in North Korea) is a 2006 British documentary film by Daniel Gordon and Nicholas Bonner. Gordon also wrote the script and produced the documentary.
Synopsis
[edit]The film is about a former U.S. Army soldier, James J. Dresnok, who defected to North Korea on 15 August 1962. The documentary shows Dresnok in present-day in Pyongyang (where he lived until his death), interacting with his North Korean family and friends. Dresnok speaks exclusively to the filmmakers about his childhood, his desertion, his life in North Korea, his fellow defectors, and his wife and children.[1] The documentary also features the court marshal trial of Charles Robert Jenkins and information about Dresnok's work in the 1978 North Korean film Unsung Heroes.[2] The film presents information about multiple American defectors to North Korea, but focuses primarily on Dresnok.[3]
Production
[edit]Daniel Gordon began filming the documentary in 2004, featuring James Dresnok and Charles Robert Jenkins, the last two surviving American defectors in North Korea at the time.[1] The film features the first ever Western interviews with Dresnok since his defection.[4]
Cast
[edit]- James Joseph Dresnok
- Charles Robert Jenkins
- Christian Slater as the narrator
Reception
[edit]The film was well-received, and has a rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.[5] Writing for Slate, Ed Gonzales said that the documentary was interesting but compromised by the director's aesthetic choices. He additionally criticized the psychoanalysis of Dresnok provided by the film.[6] Additionally, The New York Times criticized the film for its photography and editing.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Lee, Hyo-won (23 August 2007). "'Crossing' Reveals Untold N. Korea Story". The Korea Times. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ a b Seitz, Matt Zoller (10 August 2007). "A Defector's Second Life, Embracing North Korea". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Spiller, Penny (23 January 2007). "Last US defector in North Korea". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Abele, Robert; Olsen, Mark; Goldstein, Gary (12 October 2007). "Deserter explains his story". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Crossing the Line". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ Gonzalez, Ed (3 August 2007). "Review: Crossing the Line". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2025.