The Propaganda Game

The Propaganda Game examines North Korea from both inside and outside, asking how a hermetic state constructs its reality. The film traces the space where official messaging, state media, and external reporting collide, showing how propaganda functions as diplomacy as well as intimidation. Through archival footage and interviews with analysts and observers, it reveals the mechanics of manipulation, from the framing of leaders to the way crises are presented to the world. The narrative is sharp but non sensational, and it uses real world events to test claims without offering easy answers. The Sony leaks provide context about how modern leaks complicate truth in politics and public perception.

Released in 2015 and directed by Álvaro Longoria, the documentary blends archival North Korean footage with expert commentary to probe how the regime crafts its public image and how outsiders interpret it, framing propaganda as a political tool.

Although not a blockbuster, the film has become a reference point in discussions of media power and authoritarian messaging. It shows how state narratives travel through leaks, diplomacy, and selective reporting, prompting audiences to scrutinize sources and weigh claims against the visible realities.

Critics describe the film as a sober, balanced examination of information control and isolation. Its main themes include how regimes manage perception, the limits of foreign coverage in a closed society, and how diplomacy turns on shaping what people think.