Experiencing Interruptions?

Reclaiming The Negative

Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, roughly 31,000 North Koreans have defected from their home country to South Korea. In 2018, photographer Tim Franco began shooting a series of large format portraits using an unusual technique for a book detailing some of their experiences.

  • Mike Beech
    Director
  • Mike Beech
    Producer
  • Eun-ju Kim
    Key Cast
  • Tim Franco
    Key Cast
  • Ben Hensor
    Sound Design
  • Mike Beech
    Music
  • Mike Beech
    Cinematography
  • Mike Beech
    Editing
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 19, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Korea, Republic of
  • Language:
    English, Korean
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Raw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Mike Beech

Mike Beech is a multi-award winning director, cinematographer, and editor based in Manchester, UK. He has worked in a variety of genres including documentary, fashion, music videos, travel, television, corporate, charity projects, and narrative filmmaking.

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Director Statement

This film looks at a North Korean defector's extraordinary and harrowing escape from her country of birth and the artistic process of a large format photographer who captures a series of stunning portraits of North Korean defectors living in Seoul, South Korea.

The film takes a more intimate look at the human side of the highly political subject matter.