The Apostle : He Was Anointed By God
Director Kim Jin-moo and Mountain Pictures announced that they will soon be releasing their new motion picture, “The Apostle: He Was Annointed By God”. The film features the story of North Korea’s underground Christians who are oppressed by the regime.
The plot is centered around Chul-ho, the protagonist, a North Korean Christian who works to take North Koreans across the border into China and eventually to South Korea. Chul-ho, his family and friends overcome various obstacles to escape the oppressive regime. Some of the North Korean soldiers are happy to accept bribes to let them pass, while others are not so generous.
Actor Kim In-kwon was cast to play the role of Chul-ho. Kim was well-known for his supporting roles in several past Korean films, but was first hesitant to take part in the project. He told Joongang Daily, a Korean newspaper that when he first read the script he wanted to look the other way because he couldn’t bear the weight of the story.
The director Kim Jin-moo, eventually convinced Kim In-Kwon to play the part. However, he also explained how most of the artists and other people who were involved in the making of the film were Christians and/or activists fighting for rights and freedom on North Korea. He spent over a year of research before even planning for the project.
The film is already drawing a great deal of attention not only from Korean film fans but also foreign human rights organizations. The Forbes review reported that, “For those who worry about the fate of unknown tens of thousands of secret Christians in North Korea, this is a powerful film with a believable story.”
Reuters reported that the picture is also to be screened at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in March, and even the British Parliament.
Meanwhile, in North Korea, the supreme leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the execution of 33 Christians for coming into contact with a South Korean missionary and plotting to overthrow the regime. American citizen Kenneth Bae is also held in captivity in North Korea’s penal camps.
