Story Of Famous South Korean Film Couple Abducted By Kim Jong Il Premieres At Sundance

The Sundance fever has begun. One of the most anticipated films in this year's lineup, "The Lovers and the Despot," tells about the stranger-than-fiction story of a famous South Korean film director and his wife, an actress, abducted by film-obsessed North Korea dictator Kim Jong Il. The said film has premiered weekend at the 2016 Sundance International Independent Film Festival. 

British filmmakers Ross Adam and Robert Cannan have a way with bizarre tales as subject for a documentary film. "The Lovers and the Despot" chronicles the string of events of 1960's South Korea Cinema's golden couple director Shin Sang Ok and actress Choi Eun Hee, following their abduction in 1977.

According to Cannan, they were able to approach the film project with an open mind but like most people, it seem too fantastic to be true when you first hear the story. "Essentially, our opinion shifted that way and this way as we made the film," Canaan added.

The celebrity couple were kidnapped as they struggled their way to revive their dying careers. The abduction was initiated by the movie-obsessed Kim Jong Il who used their way with the silver screen in making films that could par up to the international arena. During that time, Kim has not yet succeeded his father's rule as North Korea's head of state. 

While on a trip to Hong Kong in 1977 to discuss a big movie deal, Choi was first abducted, while Shin, was taken as he traveled to Hong Kong while in search of his ex-wife, with whom he had remained to still have kept close ties. For four years, Shin was kept in prison before Choi and him were reunited.

The couple, left with no options, cooperated with Kim and soon after, has won his trust. They were able to produce a series of movies as the couple struggled their way out of Kim's iron claws, and having film festivals abroad as road to redemption.  

According to a report by Korea Herald, filmmakers Cannan and Adam became very much convinced of the couple's story as they went through a comprehensive research and examine footages of conversations between Kim and the couple, which were snuck out during their escape. 

"This is a story about a filmmaker who gets everything, but at a price... making films in a very oppressive climate, with his producer as a tyrant," Cannan said.