Pyongyang)+reflections

How does the narrator's perspective affect mood and tone in the film //North Korea: A Day in the Life// by Pieter Fleury and //Pyongyang//?

As a documentary, //North Korea: A Day in the Life// is very unique in the way that there is no narrator. However, there is a soundtrack that makes readers become unconsciously affected by the mood of the music, which is always sad, gloomy, and lonely. The only happy music played is of that within the video, for instance, the song playing for the workers at the textile factory. From the choice of music alone, one can conclude that Pieter Fluery is not wishing to convey a positive image of North Korea to his audience. Besides the music aspect, his perspective and how that comes across is less subtle, especially in contrast to the graphic novel //Pyongyang//. To start with, Guy Delisle, the author, is constantly narrating throughout the book, in which his way of writing (sarcasm plays an especially big role) stands out predominantly in conveying his perspective. Although Guy is not necessarily straightforward in his words either, which is evident from his satire, that certain way he chose to express himself stands out in an apparent manner, making his perspective more easily perceivable by the reader. Unless one is incapable of detecting sarcasm, there is nothing enigmatic about the subjective viewpoint held by Guy, as a foreigner having visited North Korea for work.

In the documentary, however, everything seems oblique. Which, as one eventually comes to the realization, was exactly what the director's intention had been all along. It seemingly looks at the life of a North Korean in an objective manner, and even convinces the audience that everything is merely neutrally displayed for them to watch and interpret for themselves. Hence, the whole documentary is enveloped by mysterious and above all, strange mood. But because of the fact that the audience is more or less tricked into believing that they are given an objective perspective-- from more clear-cut elements such as the absence of narration--, it's harder for them to realize the subjective viewpoint that they had actually been affected by, or in other words, let the video affect them. Because in fact, nothing in the video was included without purpose, and every clip edited in and out, and effect inserted, hadn't been done without reason. They were all made and finished up with careful precision, just the way that served Pieter Fleury's intentions in the way he wanted. Everything that the audience felt was weird, or unnatural, about the characters in the video, however closely that might resemble these peoples' lives, had been made to look so as to have people start wondering, and go, "is this what the North Korean government is proud to show? But this can't even possibly be their real everyday life; this part is way too weird..." and start wondering from where the facade actually starts. There are infinite possibilities outside of this video that could be going on in North Korea. This is a fact that is never told explicitly anywhere in the video, but that one may start to recognize as if they are coming up with the suspicion all by themselves (but in reality, with much aid of the documentary).

Going back to //Pyongyang//, when something looks odd, readers see, and feel, the author's puzzlement clearly expressed along with their own. Although because the author is only allowed to experience very limited settings and environment in North Korea, there are many things he doesn't know, nor fully grasp. Same goes for //North Korea: A Day in the Life//, because the North Korean government is always in control of what the cameraman is allowed to film and take with them. But ultimately, the video relies more heavily on the audience's ability to be aware of such limitations and largely, discernment of the cryptic scenes displayed to them. Because on the surface, anyone completely clueless about what goes on in North Korea might be fooled that they don't lead lives much different from others in the world. But for those who are at least a little clued in, Pieter Fluery offers a lot for them to think, feel, and most of all, ponder.