Beyond Utopia

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Beyond Utopia
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMadeleine Gavin
Produced by
CinematographyKim Hyun-seok
Edited byMadeleine Gavin
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 21, 2023 (2023-01-21) (Sundance)
  • October 23, 2023 (2023-10-23) (United States)
Running time
107 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Korean
Box office$52,859[2]

Beyond Utopia is a 2023 American documentary film directed by Madeleine Gavin. The film debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The documentary centers around Pastor Seungeun Kim, a South Korean human rights activist and director of the Caleb Mission, which has rescued over 1,000 North Korean defectors since 2000.

Release[edit]

Beyond Utopia debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023.[3] The film was screened at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in the "Documentary Showcase" section on October 8, 2023.[4] In the United States Roadside Attractions and Fathom Events acquired distribution rights and released the film on a two-day screening on October 23, and October 24, 2023.[5] Independent Lens acquired broadcast television rights to the film, setting a January 9, 2024, broadcast.[6][7]

Reception[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 57 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "A documentary that feels like a thriller, Beyond Utopia is a gripping—and frightening—glimpse of life under oppression."[8] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[9]

Writing for /Film, Ben Pearson awarded the film a score of 9 out of 10 and found the handheld footage to be "nothing short of extraordinary."[10] Variety's Owen Gleiberman praised the film for showing audiences the "forgotten" tragedy of North Korea through its use of impressive first-hand camerawork.[11] In a more mixed review, Daniel Fienberg, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, found the film to have an tension-filled and emotional story while following the defecting families, but derided the inclusion of a "dry and lifeless" history lesson on North Korea that didn't fit alongside the compelling first-hand accounts.[12]

Accolades[edit]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Sundance Film Festival 29 January 2023 U.S. Documentary Competition: Grand Jury Prize Beyond Utopia Nominated [13]
U.S. Documentary Competition: Audience Award Won
Sydney Film Festival 18 June 2023 GIO Audience Award for Best International Documentary Won [14]
Jerusalem Film Festival 23 July 2023 In Spirit for Freedom Award Nominated [15]
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 3 November 2023 Best Documentary Film Nominated [16]
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards 12 November 2023 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [17]
Best Political Documentary Nominated
Best Director Madeleine Gavin Nominated
Best Editing Nominated
IndieWire Critics Poll 11 December 2023 Best Documentary Beyond Utopia 7th Place [18]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 12 December 2023 Best Documentary Film Nominated [19]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society 13 December 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [20]
St. Louis Film Critics Association 17 December 2023 Best Documentary Film Nominated [21]
Indiana Film Journalists Association 17 December 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [22]
[23]
North Texas Film Critics Association 18 December 2023 Best Documentary Film Nominated [24]
Women Film Critics Circle Awards 18 December 2023 Best Documentary by or About Women Nominated [25]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists 3 January 2024 Best Documentary Nominated [26]
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards 5 January 2024 Best Documentary Film Runner-up [27]
[28]
Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards 6 January 2024 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [29]
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards 8 January 2024 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [30]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards 9 January 2024 Best Documentary Film Nominated [31]
Austin Film Critics Association Awards 10 January 2024 Best Documentary Nominated [32]
Cinema Eye Honors 12 January 2024 Audience Choice Prize Nominated [33]
Outstanding Production Jana Edelbaum, Rachel Cohen and Sue Mi Terry Nominated
Denver Film Critics Society 12 January 2024 Best Documentary Feature Beyond Utopia Nominated [34]
Houston Film Critics Society 22 January 2024 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [35]
[36]
Directors Guild of America Awards 10 February 2024 Outstanding Directing – Documentary Madeleine Gavin Nominated [37]
Producers Guild of America Awards 25 February 2024 Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures Beyond Utopia Nominated [38]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Beyond Utopia! (15)". BBFC. January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "Beyond Uptopia (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved January 7, 2024.Edit this at Wikidata
  3. ^ "Beyond Utopia | Sundance Film Festival". festivalplayer.sundance.org. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List". Busan International Film Festival. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Morfoot, Addie (August 28, 2023). "Sundance Doc 'Beyond Utopia' Scores U.S. Theatrical Release From Fathom Events and Roadside Attractions (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Morfoot, Addie (December 5, 2023). "Oscar Hopeful 'Beyond Utopia' Kicks Off Winter Slate for PBS Doc Series 'Independent Lens' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "Beyond Utopia". ITVS. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "Beyond Utopia". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "Beyond Utopia". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Pearson, Ben (January 25, 2023). "Beyond Utopia Review: A Jaw-Dropping Documentary About Escape From North Korea [Sundance]". /Film. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (January 24, 2023). "'Beyond Utopia' Review: A Staggering Look at the Nightmare of North Korea, and Some Brave Souls Who Try to Escape It". Variety. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (January 25, 2023). "'Beyond Utopia' Review: An Uneven but Gripping Doc About North Korean Defectors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Donnelly, Matt; Debruge, Peter (January 27, 2023). "Sundance Winners: 'A Thousand and One' Takes U.S. Dramatic Jury Prize (Complete List)". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  14. ^ "The winners of the 70th Sydney Film Festival". Sydney Film Festival. June 20, 2023. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "Beyond Utopia". Jerusalem Film Festival. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Ntim, Zac (October 3, 2023). "Asia Pacific Screen Awards: Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'Evil Does Not Exist' Leads Nominations & First Round Winners Announced". Deadline. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  17. ^ Davis, Clayton (October 16, 2023). "Critics Choice Documentary Awards: 'American Symphony' Leads Nominations, Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' Lands Nod After Record-Setting Weekend". Variety. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  18. ^ Blauvelt, Christian (December 11, 2023). "2023 Critics Poll: The Best Films and Performances, According to 158 Critics from Around the World". IndieWire. Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  19. ^ Tallerico, Brian (December 8, 2023). "Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer, Poor Things Lead CFCA Nominations". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  20. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 13, 2023). "The 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  21. ^ Anderson, Eric. "2023 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". awardswatch.com. AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  22. ^ Rogers, Nick (December 12, 2023). "Nominations Announced for the 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards". Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  23. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  24. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 18, 2023). "The 2023 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  25. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 18, 2023). "Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC): Barbie, Nyad, Killers of the Flower Moon, Past Lives Win Big". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  26. ^ Merin, Jennifer (December 22, 2023). "2023 EDA Awards Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  27. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 29, 2023). "The 2023 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  28. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 5, 2024). "The 2023 Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  29. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 7, 2023). "'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  30. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2024). "The 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  31. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 5, 2024). "The 2023 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  32. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2024). "The 2023 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  33. ^ Carey, Matthew (October 19, 2023). "'The 1619 Project,' 'Nothing Lasts Forever' Lead Charge As Cinema Eye Honors Announces First Round Of Documentary Nominations [Full List]". Deadline. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  34. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 12, 2024). "The 2023 Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  35. ^ Darling, Cary (January 9, 2024). "Barbie, Oppenheimer lead Houston Film Critics Society's nominations". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  36. ^ Darling, Cary (January 22, 2024). "Houston Film Critics Society names Poor Things the best film of 2023". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  37. ^ Buchanan, Kyle (January 10, 2024). "Christopher Nolan Continues Momentum with Directors Guild Nomination". The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  38. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (January 12, 2024). "PGA Awards 2024 Nominations: Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Past Lives Among Contenders". IndieWire. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.

External links[edit]

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