The Schoolgirl's Diary Explained

The Schoolgirl's Diary
Released:
Country:	North Korea
Language:	Korean
Native Name:	Child: yes Hide: no Header: none Hangul: 한 녀학생의 일기 Hanja: 한 의 Rr: Han Nyeohaksaengeui Ilgi Mr: Han Nyŏhaksaengŭi Ilgi Northkorea: yes

The Schoolgirl's Diary (or The Journal of a Schoolgirl) is a 2007 North Korean film directed by Jang In-hak. It debuted at the 2006 Pyongyang Film Festival as one of two films produced domestically that year, and was released in France at the end of 2007.^{[1] [2]} In 2016, Radio Free Asia, a U.S. government-funded agency, incorrectly claimed that the film had been banned in North Korea.^[3] However, the film has been broadcast on North Korean state television KCTV^[4]

Notes and References

1. News: North Korea film hunts buyers at Cannes. ChannelNewsAsia. 2007-05-23. 2007-05-26. 2012-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20121011021433/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/277856/1/.html. dead.
2. News: 예술영화 《한 녀학생의 일기》 각계 반향 (Art film "A Schoolgirl's Diary" resonates with various circles). Korean Central News Agency. 2006-08-10. 2007-05-26. 2014-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20141011203203/http://www.kcna.co.jp/calendar/2006/08/08-10/2006-0810-003.html. dead.
3. Web site: North Korea Bans Formerly Approved Films Now Deemed Sensitive. Radio Free Asia. 22 July 2016.
4. Web site: 한 녀학생의 일기. 2021-10-29. Uriminzokkiri. 2021-10-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029112030/http://www.uriminzokkiri.com/index.php?ptype=ccentv&mtype=view&no=54970#pos. dead.
5. [조선영화] 한 녀학생의 일기]. 2020-04-17. Choson Movie. Motion picture. Korean. 2020-04-18. 2021-01-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210101044234/http://www.uriminzokkiri.com/index.php?ptype=ccentv&mtype=view&no=48560#pos. dead.
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZL6NFsHkL8 "[KCTV HD] 주체109(2020)년 4월 16일 조선중앙텔레비죤 — Korean Central Television 17.04.109 (2020)"] YouTube. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 18 April 2020 (At minute 2:10:15 in the video)^[4] and archived on the state-controlled news website Uriminzokkiri.^[5]

   Plot

   The film depicts a North Korean teenager's struggle to understand her father's devotion to his country, and to scientific achievement at the expense of his own family's happiness. Spending the vast majority of his time at work as a computer engineer in a distant town, he leaves his two daughters, wife, and mother-in-law to live in their dilapidated rural home. In questioning her father's values, the rebellious teen begins to defy her mother, a hardworking librarian who spends her evenings translating scientific articles for her absentee husband.

   The protagonist realizes how selfish she has been only after her father makes a major breakthrough in his scientific research and is lavished with praise for his self-sacrifice and devotion to the state.

   External links