It’s 1989, the summer of peace and love. Over 20,000 youth representatives from 177 countries gather in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students. The largest youth festival in its history celebrates socialism, peace, international solidarity, and anti-imperialism through sports, culture, and political programs.

The Romanian delegation arrives as guests of honor, and one of its members, Emilian Urse, is to thank for a unique collection of footage.

Under the leadership of Kim Il Sung, North Korea seizes the opportunity to bask in the global spotlight. The lavish festival takes a significant share of the state budget, but behind the carefully polished façade, tensions are brewing. Just a few weeks earlier, China violently suppressed student protests in Tiananmen Square, drawing vocal criticism from the festival’s Nordic representatives. Cracks are forming elsewhere, too, and Nicolae Ceaușescu’s days as the leader of Romania are numbered.

The documentary offers a fascinating window into the final moments of the Cold War, with parallels to today’s divided world.

The film premiered in November at the IDFA festival in Amsterdam.

Anna-Sofia Joro