North Korean "Hollywood" was opened for tourists, the first car for popcorn appeared at the studio

The authorities of North Korea first allowed foreign tourists to visit the film studio. April 25, where films are made for the army and civilian population. Pyongyang emphasizes that they intend to expand available tourist destinations. Previously, only guests of the International Festival were honored with such an honor, which, according to AP, was the last time in 2012.

Group excursions to the North Korean Hollywood are organized by Koryo Touurs located in Beijing. The announcement on the website of the tourist company says that the studio is named after the date of the founding of the Korean People’s Army and is intended primarily for the production of films for the military. In recent years, cinema and other directions have been made there.

- How Kim Jong I wanted America to win the cinema

Tourists visiting the film studio are primarily shown a building with a huge mosaic with images of Kim Il Sen and Kim Jong Ira, surrounded by soldiers from the Korean army. Also, the tour program includes an exclusive viewing of the 1994 North Korean comedy about young people.

In addition to cinematic entertainment, the first machine for the production of popcorn appeared in the studio. As specify in Koryo Tours, for tourists this is the first opportunity to enjoy the air corn on the road from Beijing.

The Velvet Rocket published was one of the first photo reports about the film studio named after April 25th. At the entrance to the complex located on the outskirts of Pyongyan, armed guards are exhibited. Inside you can see the buildings where post -derivatives, filming pavilions and entire streets depicting China, ancient Korea, European cities, South Korea and the United States occur.

Kim Jong Ir, who headed the DPRK until 2011, was a big fan of the movie, recalls the publication, and the owner of one of the largest collections of films in the world. It is believed that from all this collection, he loved the films about Bond most of all.

The enthusiasm of the state leader led to the fact that significant funds were invested in the North Korean film industry. Only at this studio was it more than 600 times. Unhappy with the level of local talents, he authorized the abductions of foreign specialists. The most famous is, perhaps, the abduction of the South Korean film director Shin San Oka and his wife, actress Choi Yong Hee. For eight years, from 1978 to 1986, the director took off about 20 propaganda ribbons, tried twice to escape, and also went to prison, where he was forced to undergo a political education course to understand the "erroneity of his delusions."

And Kim Jong Ir wrote a book about the theory of cinema.

During the heyday, in the 70-80s of the last century, the Pyongyang film studio produced up to forty films a year. The most popular was the theme of the anti -Sapon struggle and war against American imperialism. After the collapse of the USSR, when financial support decreased significantly, the film studio fell into decay. Now only a few tapes per year are produced.