Oh, Youth! Explained

Oh, Youth!
Director:Jon Jong Pal
Starring:Merited Actress Kim Yong Suk
Merited Actor Jang Yu Song
Hwang Song Ok
Music:Merited Artiste Han Si Jun
Cinematography:Ryu Sung Chol
Editing:Ju Suk Kyong
Studio:Korean Film Studio
Distributor:Korea Film Export and Import Corporation
Mokran Video
Runtime:92 minutes
Country:North Korea
Language:Korean

Oh, Youth!, also called O Youth!, is a 1995 North Korean comedy drama film directed by Jon Jong Pal and written by Ri Il Chol, which was originally titled "Chongchuniyo!".[1] While North Korea is not typically known for releasing comedies,[2] Oh Youth! is a rare example of a comedic film produced in the DPRK, with English subtitles, and can be viewed on YouTube.[3] Of note is that, while mention of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is a typical occurrence, the success of the characters is not attributed to him.

The film focuses on the life of a Korean family, and a romance between two characters with an interest in tae kwon do, an ancient martial art with its origins in Korea.

Oh Youth! contains scenes from Pyongyang. Locations shown in the film include the Grand People's Study House, a Pyongyang amusement park, and the Pothong River.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kim, Immanuel. Laughing North Koreans: The Culture of Comedy Films. July 15, 2020. Rowman & Littlefield. 2020. 978-1-7936-0830-7. 7, 116. en.
  2. News: Han-byeol. Lee. Ji-hyun. Park. Kwang-hyun. Joo. January 8, 2015. North Koreans review The Interview. The Guardian. August 18, 2021.
  3. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: O Youth! (1994, English Subtitles) . YouTube.