I just finished this excellent documentary "A State of Mind" which follows two North Korean girls, ages 11 and 13, as they train for the Mass Games. For those not in the know (like me 2 hours ago), the Mass Games is a 6,000 person spectacle of rhythmic gymnastics performed once a year to celebrate the glory of the North Korean people, and their general, Kim Jong Il. Not only is this film a rare and interesting glimpse into North Korean life, but it's crazy to see the deeply indoctrinated communism manifest itself as rhythmic gymnastics en masse.
These girls train non-stop so that they can perform in unison, thus proving themselves to be the perfect devoted communists: working towards the greater good of the whole. You just see these wee girls getting so excited about performing for "their father, The General, Kim Jong Il," but then, **spoiler alert**, he doesn't even show up for the performance. I knew he was a jerk, but this? Really?
It's beautiful to behold, but mind-boggling to comprehend. Those mosaics in the background are actually schoolchildren flipping over colored pages in a binder. Wild. Somebody, please watch this movie, and then call me for coffee, I'm dying to talk about it.
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