A State of Mind
Kino International | Release Date: August 10, 2005 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
63
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
New York PostV.A. Musetto
Has two especially memorable sequences: the eye-popping Mass Games and a visit by a group of schoolgirls to incredibly beautiful Mount Paekdu, which is revered by Koreans on both sides of the DMZ. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Despite the obvious cultural differences, what we come away with is a surprising sense of familiarity. Not even the widest political chasms, Gordon finds, can eradicate the universal pleasure of a young girl's giggle. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy Burr
It's a quietly wrenching eye-opener. Read full review
75
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
Subtly suggests it may not be all that much different from the delusions by which other cultures are structured. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterRichard James Havis
Certainly should appeal to viewers with an interest in current affairs. Read full review
70
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
Most mystifying, however, is the bizarre hero-worship surrounding the fingure of Kim Jong Il, a nationwide personality cult that makes Joe Stalin and Chairman Mao look like D-list celebrities. Read full review
70
Wall Street JournalJim Fusilli
The girls' enormous appeal prevents the political subtext from overburdening the film.
70
L.A. WeeklyPaul Malcolm
The stadiums and performance halls of Pyongyang become staging grounds for massive, highly choreographed political pageants that make the Nuremberg rallies look like dinner theater. You’ve never seen anything quite like these dazzling displays of groupthink. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKevin Crust
The result is a fresh, straightforward portrayal of what the film calls "the least visible ... least known ... least understood ... country in the world." Read full review
60
VarietyDerek Elley
Admirably non-judgmental docu about life in "the least visited, known, understood country in the world," per Brit director Daniel Gordon, brings a refreshing balance to the usual blind vilification of the country. Read full review
60
Village VoiceEd Park
One leaves the film with the Twilight Zone sense that the place isn't quite the hellhole prior reports have suggested. Read full review
60
The A.V. ClubNoel Murray
Beautifully shot and crisply edited to emphasize the Mass Games' pageantry, but amid the synchronized blocks of performers, Gordon singles out the cranky coaches and giggling schoolgirls, subtly emphasizing how the individual endures even when she's trying hard not to. Read full review
50
The New York TimesLawrence Van Gelder
A rare and often chilling glimpse into the culture of North Korea. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen Johnson
Although the documentary is ostensibly about these girls and their friendship, training and school life, a healthy chunk of it is a portrait of the two families. Read full review
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