A suspenseful, riveting portrait of the lengths people will go to gain freedom, BEYOND UTOPIA offers an unprecedented glimpse of life inside North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on Earth, following various families as they attempt to flee. At the film’s core is a courageous pastor—a man of God on a mission to help a mother reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind—and a family of five embarking on a treacherous journey into the hostile mountains of China. Madeleine Gavin’s award-winning, emotionally gripping film embeds the viewer with its brave subjects as they attempt their perilous defection in pursuit of liberation. The result is a singular, heart-pounding and unforgettable experience—a humanitarian story punctuated with astonishing hidden footage. In English and Korean with English subtitles.

Post-Film Discussion with Filmmakers Madeleine Gavin, Sue Mi Terry and Rachel Cohen, moderated by Natalia Winkelman.

Brattle Passes not accepted.