Powerful, tense and terrifying.

Beyond Utopia is an extraordinary and harrowing documentary that provides an unflinching look at the perilous escape of North Korean defectors, weaving together raw footage and firsthand accounts that feel more gripping than any scripted thriller. Directed by Madeleine Gavin, the film masterfully follows the journey of a family attempting to flee the oppressive regime, guided by a South Korean pastor who has dedicated his life to rescuing defectors. Viewers and critics alike have praised its unfiltered portrayal of the brutal realities North Koreans face, its heart-pounding tension, and its deeply human moments that highlight both the despair and resilience of those seeking freedom. With its immersive storytelling and a rare glimpse into one of the world's most secretive nations, Beyond Utopia is an eye-opening exposé and a profoundly moving testament to the power of hope.

Breathtaking. This documentary had to be nearly impossible to make. We free people have no idea how awful things can be & what incredibly brave people exist in the shadows.

This should be shown in every school in America

a harrowing and deeply upsetting experience that everyone needs to see.

Thrilling and terrifying documentary with life-or-death stakes. From a structural standpoint - the hard cuts away from the A and B plot lines didn't really work. You know why they do this of course - to try and add context to the main plots - but the hard cuts didn't feel earned from a craft and filmmaking standpoint. Could have been done better.

Holy sh*t. I can’t remember the last time a documentary moved me this much. Mind blowing. 100% must see!

Gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, joyful, haunting, there are not enough adjectives to describe this very memorable documentary. Many thanks to the film crew for capturing the and documenting these peoples lives

Gripping. Everybody should see this.

This documentary was so compelling. I knew North Korea was bad, but I didn't really understand the extent of it. Seeing how much the Ro family had to go through in order to get out was incredibly eye-opening.

I love documentaries but this own takes the cake. Beautifully made, insightful, and heart wrenching all at the same time. I learned a lot, which is what a documentary should do. I consider myself an informed person but I see that I knew nothing.

" Beyond Utopia (Madeline Gavin, United States, 2023) is an ambitious project that some might have said was impossible. Gavin's film focuses on a high-risk defection network run by Pastor Sengeun Kim, who himself successfully defected from North Korea and now oversees the escapes of his former fellow citizens (sometimes putting himself in personal danger of being deported back to most notoriously secretive regimes in the world). Defectors in Gavin's film include Hyukchang Wu and his family, who cannot navigate the land-mine-rigged border into South Korea. Instead, they must flee into the mountains to travel into China or other surrounding communist countries — where, if detained, they risk being sold to organ traffickers, prostitution rings or handed back to North Korean authorities." Full review: https://offscreen.com/view/sheffield-international-documentary-festival-forward-thinking-cinema-in-the-ukas-steel-city

This is a nail-bitting documentary. A must see.

A terrifying film about a struggle for life and death. Hugely emotional and sometimes stressful to watch, yet tears undoubtedly will flow at the culmination.

Fascinating, harrowing.

Gut-wrenching firsthand personal accounts of life inside the unimaginably bizarre and inhumane dystopia that is North Korea today, and the extremely difficult, dangerous, and daring attempt by one multi-generational North Korean family to escape in the most improbable ways simply so they could live. This very important documentary should be widely disseminated and watched across the entire world.

Thankful there are good people willing to risk their lives so others may be free from oppression. Let's pray Korea will soon be unified.

Wow - this is a must watch to open your eyes to the other things that are going on in the world! Just a warning - be prepared for a lot of caption reading, I started watching when I was a little tired and didn’t make it long the first attempt at watching it but finished it on night 2.

The film gives the viewer the opportunity to witness real life situations, feel emotion, and feel what those in the film are experiencing from their own point of view. It does an amazing job in sharing stories of refugees and survivors.

This documentary needs to be seen by everyone in the world.