The true story of two filmmakers, kidnapped by North Korea and forced to make films flattering to the regime, who plotted not just films…but their escape. [ The Lovers and the Despot credits: Dir: Ross Adam, Robert Cannan/ 98 min/ Documentary/ Escape From Socialism] Pity Kim Jong Il, dictator of North Korea from 1994 to 2011. He wanted so badly to have a world-class film … [Read more...]
Danny From North Korea (2013)
A 17-year-old North Korean boy makes a daring escape from his totalitarian country, and with the help of an American relief agency emigrates to America. [ Danny from North Korea credits: Dir: Adam Sjoberg/ 33 min/ Documentary/ Escape from socialism] Meet Danny, a courageous teenager from North Korea who escaped across a highly-policed border into China in 2005. North … [Read more...]
Free State Project: 101 Reasons Liberty Lives in New Hampshire (2014)
Free State Project activists offer 101 reasons for libertarians to move to New Hampshire. [ Free State Project: 101 Reasons Liberty Lives in New Hampshire credits: Dir: Beau Davis/ 63 min/ Escape from socialism] In case you haven't heard of the Free State iProject, it's an effort to gather enough libertarians in one state to create a sort of cultural and political … [Read more...]
The Defector: Escape from North Korea (2012)
A man known only as "Dragon" makes his living helping North Koreans escape their totalitarian government, in daring journeys that could end either in success...or torture and execution. [ The Defector: Escape from North Korea credits: Dir: Ann Shin/ Dragon, Sook-ja, Yong-hee/ 71 min/ Documentary/ Escape from socialism] How to See It Amazon (DVD) Amazon (Instant … [Read more...]
The Tunnel (2001)
After successfully escaping from East Germany, a young man constructing a tunnel to help his sister to get out finds that many more want to bolt to freedom as well. Based on a true story. [ The Tunnel credits: Dir: Roland Suso Richter/ Heino Ferch, Nicolette Krebitz, Sebastian Koch/ 150min/ Thriller, Action-Adventure, Foreign/ Escape from socialism] How to See It Amazon … [Read more...]
Before Night Falls (2000)
Reinaldo Arenas suffers increasing state persecution as he rises to become one of Cuba's greatest writers. [ Before Night Falls credits: Dir: Julian Schnabel / Javier Bardem, Olivier Martinez, Johnny Depp / 133min/ Biography, Drama/ Anti-Socialism, Freedom of Speech, Government as Bigot] "People that make art are dangerous to any dictatorship. We create beauty and beauty … [Read more...]
East-West (1999)
A naive Russian émigré and his family repatriate to post-WWII Soviet Union, only to discover, too late, the full truth about life under socialism. [ East-West credits: Dir: Regis Wargnier/ Sandrine Bonnaire, Oleg Menchikov, Catherine Deneuve/ 120min/ Drama, Foreign Language/ France/ In French with English subtitles/ Escape from Socialism, Democide/ a.k.a. Est - … [Read more...]
Bitter Sugar (1996)
A Cuban family is torn apart by socialist lies and repression. Story inspired by actual events. [ Bitter Sugar credits: Dir: Leon Ichaso/ Rene Lavan, Mayte Vilan, Miguel Gutierrez/ 102 min/ Romance, Drama, Foreign Language/ Cuba, USA/ In Spanish with English subtitles/ Escape from Socialism, Anti-Socialism] At this time of worldwide retreat from socialism, it’s easy to … [Read more...]
The Promise (1994)
The lives of two people are destroyed by the Berlin Wall and by their own weakness in the face of it. [ The Promise credits: Dir: Margarethe Von Trotta/ Meret Becker, Corinna Harfouch, Anian Zollner, August Zirner/ 115 min/ Drama, Foreign Language/ Germany/ In German with English subtitles/ Escape from Socialism] This German-made story about the Berlin Wall reflects the … [Read more...]
China Cry (1990)
A young Chinese woman experiences the horrors of a state gone mad. Based on a true story. [ China Cry credits: Dir: James F. Collier/ Julia Nickson Soul, Russell Wong, James Shigeta/ 103 min/ Drama/ Escape from Socialism, Government as Bigot] This semiautobiographical account tells the story of Sung Neng Yee (aka Nora Lam), a young woman who was persecuted for years by … [Read more...]