| There is, of course, no doubt that Kim Jong-Il’s régime is brutal and corrupt, deserving of the criticism that it gets. But in addition to following the girls around, director Daniel Gordon also spends time with the girls’ families. To what extent and by whom? At times, it becomes almost comical, even absurd. Only then will they be able to perform in front of their beloved Kim Jong-Il. Both are gymnasts, and much of the documentary focuses on their training for the Mass Games, the largest display of acrobatics in the world. STATE OF MIND delves into the abyss to bring to light the manipulation and shocking and suppressed examples that reveal the true agendas at work. Ratings: 6.89 / 10 from 218 users. Though many folks probably see films as mindless entertainment, as things to experience once you’ve shut off your brain and begun eating handfuls of popcorn, films have an ability that is unique among all artforms. Be the first to contribute! From the anvil of compulsory schooling to media and entertainment, we are kept in perpetual bondage to the ideas that shape our actions. From the ancient roots of the control of human behavior to its maturity in the mind control experiments of intelligence agencies and other organs of manipulation, STATE OF MIND reveals a plan for the future that drives home the dreadful price of our ignorance. The unlikely subjects of A State of Mind are two young girls, Pak Hyon Sun and Kim Song Yon. A State of Mind is a 2004 documentary film directed by Daniel Gordon and produced by Nicholas Bonner. Propaganda that, if the film is any indication, serves two goals: continual deification of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il and continual hatred of America. 2013, Conspiracy - 110 min 93 Comments. A State of Mind is a 2004 documentary film directed by Daniel Gordon and produced by Nicholas Bonner. [font=Century Gothic]"State of Mind" is a documentary filmed in 2003 by a BBC film crew that was allowed unprecedented access in North Korea … With Daniel Gordon, Hyon Sun Pak, Song Yun Kim, Jong-Il Kim. This is especially true as the young girls express their worship and devotion for their leaders. The Mass Games are intended to celebrate momentous events such as the birthday of Kim Il-Sung, North Korea’s eternal ​“Great Leader.” But even more importantly, the sight of thousands of performers melding together to form one giant, cohesive display is intended to embody Korean communist philosophy, the perfect example of the individual giving themselves over to the collective. This makes for a surprisingly candid view of even the most mundane aspects of North Korean culture. The enormous implications of these questions deter most of us who must deal with the daily consequences of the answers. And the goal was to see how movies might actually elicit understanding and even compassion, rather than serve as mere escapist entertainment. However, the irony of the Games is also on full display, nearly as much as the colorful costumes and amazing choreography. When a power outage occurs in the capital of Pyongyang, the blame is placed squarely on the ​“bloody Americans.” And a permanent fixture in all North Korean kitchens is a radio blaring state propaganda — which can be turned down, but not off. Due to the government’s incredible control over all information in the country, the populace have been fed decades of propaganda. However, as I’ve watched A State of Mind, I’ve found myself growing increasingly uncomfortable with the strong rhetoric that often surrounds North Korea, rhetoric that originates from both within and without its borders. Directed by Daniel Gordon. To prepare for the massive event, Sun and Kim train outdoors on a daily basis, repeating the same moves hour after hour on concrete lots, until they’ve achieved perfection. (Would they deny it as a lie propagated by the American imperialist aggressors?). 6.89. Both are gymnasts, and much of the documentary focuses on their training for the Mass Games, the largest display of acrobatics in the world. STATE OF MIND unveils the answers that may decide whether humankind will fulfill its destiny or be forever shackled to its own creation. This fabulous and fascinating British documentary peels back some of the secrecy that surrounds North Korea, and is probably the closest that any of us will ever come to seeing the citizens of that most isolated country. But at other times, the constant rattling of sabers towards America, and especially the cult-like devotion shown for the country’s leaders, becomes disturbing and even saddening. It is an irony to which the North Koreans, or at least those interviewed in the film, seem blind. And one wonders what would happen if they were shown the truth of Kim Jong-Il’s incredibly opulent lifestyle, one that is carried out even as the rest of the country faces the looming threat malnutrition. Films can plop folks landlocked in the middle of America smack dab in the middle of a foreign land to see sights and hear sounds would otherwise remain distant and unknown.