The current events magazine Newsweek reported in its Sept. 27 issue that North Korean filmgoers were shocked at the uncensored love scenes of Western films played at the Pyongyang International Film Festival.
Quoting German director Eva Munz, who participated in the film festival, Newsweek said that unlike the old days, North Korea filmgoers naturally accepted Western films, but they were unable to suppress their shock at certain scenes like love scenes.
The magazine also said it must have shocked North Korean citizens to see the move "Cry, the Beloved Country", set in apartheid South Africa, which stressed the importance of speaking out against an evil system.
According to Newsweek, the English film "Bend It Like Beckham" was the best-received film of the festival. Fans welcomed the jokes, and gasped at some of the scenes showing expressions of affection.
One foreigner that has visited North Korea regularly over the last 10 years pointed out, "The entire crowd responded spontaneously and naturally. That was something I've never seen before".
Newsweek said North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was a movie addict who was a huge fan of James Bond and Elizabeth Taylor and owned a personal collection of 15,000 films.
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