TV Review: MICHAEL PALIN IN NORTH KOREA + MANSON: THE LOST TAPES

This article was originally published in The Courier on 29th September 2018.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/category/lifestyle/entertainment/tv-film/

MICHAEL PALIN IN NORTH KOREA: Thursday, Five

MANSON: THE LOST TAPES: Thursday, STV

Any Western journalist attempting to fully document the ‘real’ North Korea is on a hiding to nothing. Nevertheless, MICHAEL PALIN IN NORTH KOREA delivered some fascinating  insight into this highly secretive Communist nation.

As far as Kim Jong-un’s regime is concerned, this series is a public relations exercise organised with the intent of improving modern NK’s international image. They’re fully aware of their reputation as a trigger-happy, crackpot liability and an oppressive cult-of-personality dictatorship in which brainwashed citizens endure a terrible quality of life. This is their attempt to show the wider world that – hey! – we’re actually alright. That’s understandable.

They presumably did their research when it came to vetting the ideal host. That nice Michael Palin is an unthreatening presence, he’s not going to make things difficult for them (I do like the idea of Kim Jong-un nodding his approval while watching Around the World in 80 Days).

However, Palin’s politesse, humour and humanity worked in the programme’s favour. His open-minded friendliness encouraged understandably guarded people to converse as naturally as possible. He’s no lightweight, he’s a stellar travel journalist. In episode one, he depicted ordinary NK citizens as what they are: human beings getting on with their lives as opposed to faceless symbols of autocratic rule.

Inevitably, his investigation is heavily stage-managed – shadowed by friendly minders, Palin and his crew are under constant surveillance – but he still succeeded in quietly peeling back the layers of NK’s stereotyped image.

In the concluding episode, he visited the demilitarised zone on the North/South Korean border, where he endured an awkward encounter with a lieutenant who parroted the official line about the Korean War (NK won, apparently). He did, however, agree with our winningly diplomatic host that world peace is a good idea.

Palin also visited a beach town that could potentially play a key role in revitalising NK‘s economy. Though his citizens are only allowed 15 days off work per year, Kim Jong-un wants to turn this luxury resort/airport into an international holiday destination. Opening itself up to Western influence seems almost inevitable. Palin noted that he was glad to have experienced this country before it looks just like everywhere else.

Despite Kim’s dreams, will anyone of sound conscience want to visit a nation notorious for poverty and human rights violations? Satire alert: Britain and America seem to be doing okay.

Palin’s visit to a rural farm highlighted its debilitating food shortages. Aid agencies have estimated that more than a million people starved to death during a devastating '90s drought. When Palin asked a farmer if things had improved, she replied in the affirmative through gritted teeth.

The most revealing moment arrived during a conversation between Palin and his female minder. When he asked why NK citizens never criticise their leaders, she nervously replied that they represent the nation: “Criticising our leaders is like criticising ourselves too.”

This remarkable series delivered as rounded a portrait of NK as possible under the circumstances. It offered thoughtful and conflicted insight by examining telling surface details while hinting between the lines at issues it couldn’t tackle head-on.

In episode one of MANSON: THE LOST TAPES, rare footage of the notorious cult leader’s gun-toting acolytes was made public for the first time. Filmed mere days after Manson and three of his followers were charged with the brutal slaying of actress Sharon Tate and friends, the matter-of-fact interviews proved utterly chilling.

How did Manson brainwash these young hippies towards wanton acts of carnage? We’ll never understand for sure – how could we? – but this grim excavation did at least illustrate the horrific results of fragile human psyches being sabotaged by insane, charismatic manipulators.