This film is being presented as part of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library's Wednesday Movie Club, a weekly showcase of movies that matter for people who love movies.  Attendees will be invited to discuss the film immediately following the screening. Registration is not required.

Synopsis

BEYOND UTOPIA is a suspenseful, riveting portrait of the lengths people will go to gain freedom.  The documentary gives viewers a glimpse of a real-life "matrix," following various families as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on Earth, yet 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.  Leaving their homeland is fraught with unimaginable danger -- but these individuals are driven to take the risk. Gripping, thrilling, and never more timely, 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. The result is a singular, heart-pounding, and unforgettable experience.

Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 115m
Starring: Barbara Demick, Il-Sung Kim, Jong-Il Kim, Jong-Nam Kim
Directed by: Madeleine Gavin