A suspenseful, riveting portrait of the lengths people will go to gain freedom, Beyond Utopia follows various families as they attempt to flee North Korea, a land they grew up believing was a paradise. At the film’s core is a courageous pastor, a man of God on a mission to help a mother reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind, and a family of five — including small children and an elderly grandmother — embarking on a treacherous journey into the hostile mountains of China. Gripping and thrilling, Madeleine Gavin’s award-winning film embeds the viewer with these family members as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes.

Awards:

BAFTA Nominee, Best Documentary
Winner, Best Documentary at Sundance and Sydney Film Festivals