Repatriation (2003)

Repatriation (2003) delves into the intricate and emotional journey of a 12-year relationship between the director and North Korean spies who were captured and held in South Korea. The documentary vividly portrays their hardships, their eventual journey back to North Korea, and the complex political landscape that surrounds the division of the two Koreas. Among the numerous spies exchanged between North and South Korea since their separation at the end of the Korean War in 1953, many remained long-term "unconverted" prisoners in the South. The director, Kim, becomes deeply involved in the lives of these spies over a decade, chronicling their eventual release, their struggles to adapt to a transformed democratic society, and their ongoing fight for repatriation. This film offers a deeply personal, emotionally resonant, and insightful account from the waning days of the Cold War.