Crossing the Line
Documentary
-
2006
Available on
Country
In 1962, a U.S. soldier sent to guard the peace in South Korea deserted his unit, walked across the most heavily fortified area on earth and defected to the Cold War enemy, the communist state of North Korea. He became a star of the North Korean propaganda machine, but then disappeared from the face of the earth. Now, after 45 years, the story of James Dresnok, the last American defector in North Korea, is being told for the first time. Crossing the Line follows Dresnok as he recalls his childhood, desertion, and life in the DPRK.
Director:
Cast:
Similar
Details
Rated:
Not Rated
Runtime:
94 min
Release date:
16 Oct 2006
Country:
GB
Languages:
English, Korean
Budget:
$0
Revenue:
$0
Awards:
1 nomination
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
Crossing the Line, like its subject, remains a fascinating and frustrating enigma -- a declassified government report still marred by redacted passages.
– Scott Foundas,
L.A. Weekly,
11 Oct 2007
fresh:
Crossing The Line lacks the force and power of a strong point of view, but like Gordon's other work about North Korea, it succeeds in revealing what it means for individuals to give themselves over to a collective.
– Scott Tobias,
AV Club,
10 Aug 2007
fresh:
Fascinating.
– V.A. Musetto,
New York Post,
10 Aug 2007
fresh:
You'll be untangling Dresnok's knotty reality long after you leave the theater.
– Elizabeth Weitzman,
New York Daily News,
10 Aug 2007
fresh:
[The] compelling story and the plentiful high-definition video images of North Korean daily life prove so fascinating that Crossing the Line is riveting.
– Matt Zoller Seitz,
New York Times,
10 Aug 2007