I cannot believe how much love and sympathy there is for this regime.

I've always been interested in studying nK. I had an uncle who was a Korean War vet and been to ROK several times. I've toured the DMZ, been to the Freedom Bridge, and even sat at the table in the blue buildings in Panmunjom. I even participated in the ROK-US military exercises where we allegedly plan to "invade the north". I'm not one to take things at face value, so I read alot about nK. I think the situation there is pretty clear. Yet, apparently there is a fair amount of sympathy and respect for the North Koreans. Here's a few takeaways I got from this film:

The Canadian photographer he interviewed said (paraphrasing) that "it's not that the information coming from nK is wrong, it's just that there's so little of it". So, it's our fault for seizing on anything and twisting it around to fit the narrative.

Westerners should feel bad for making fun of North Korean culture, because it's not very nice.

It's completely understandable that they are armed to the teeth to defend themselves from all the hostile countries that surround them, led by the imperialist Americans.

And the crown jewel, that sums up the brainwashing. Alejandro said "I was always impressed by the idealism of communism, it's just that the people at the top were always corrupt." As if the whole system would work just fine if you plugged in the right person.

Odd, isn't it, that after 100+ years of communism in various forms and institutions, that we're still searching for a communist dictator with a heart?

Overall, I'd say the film was balanced and did include opinions from both sides. But this is not a topic that lends itself to debate. The truth seems pretty cut and dry to me.