Compelling Film - Letter to the editor by - Martha Cunningham - Concord Monitor
Lantos Foundation Presents the Film, “Crossing”
A Gripping Glimpse Into Human Rights Atrocities in North Korea
April 22, 2011-The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice along with the University of New Hampshire School of Law’s Social Justice Institute will present the movie “Crossing,” an unforgettable film depicting the ongoing human rights abuses taking place in North Korea.
The film, called a “Schindler’s List for North Korea,” by the Wall Street Journal, will be shown at 6pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at Red River Theatres in Concord. Admission is free, however reservations are suggested.
“Crossing,” Korea’s 2008 Official entry for Oscar’s Best Foreign Language film is a riveting film based on true stories concerning the dire human rights situation in a divided Korea. It is a bold, raw and unforgettable story of a young North Korean boy who dares to cross the border in search of his father. It is a story North Korea does not want told.
Prior to the film, a discussion regarding human rights abuses in North Korea and the impact on international relations will take place with special guests, Ambassador Robert R. King, Special Envoy for North Korea, Chuck Downs, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Dean John Broderick from the University of New Hampshire School of Law and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation.
“The ‘Hermit Kingdom’ of North Korea, goes to extraordinary lengths to hide the shocking truth about the starvation, repression and cruel imprisonment of its own people. There are few countries on the face of the earth, where human rights abuses are as massive and systemic as in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. “The Lantos Foundation hopes that this screening and unforgettable movie, “Crossing,” will educate people and inspire them to get involved on behalf of the suffering people of North Korea.”
Both Ambassador Bob King and Chuck Downs will be available after the film for questions.
This important movie presentation is part of the ongoing efforts of the Lantos Foundation to raise the level of consciousness in the local community about human rights abuses in the world.