Bend It Like Beckham airs on N. Korean TV
First Western-made film to do so
The 2002 British movie Bend It Like Beckham has become first Western-made film to be broadcast on North Korean television.
Reports from Seoul say the broadcast on Dec. 26 lasted just one hour, slashed from the movie's original 112 minutes.
Starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, the film centres on a teenage girl who is a big fan of British soccer star David Beckham and wants to play soccer against the wishes of her traditional Indian parents.
The film, blending comedy and drama, tackles several issues, including homosexuality, religion and interracial relationships.
Martin Uden, the British ambassador to South Korea, posted a message on Twitter on Friday confirming the broadcast and saying his embassy had arranged it.
During the film's broadcast, a message flashed onscreen saying it marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Britain and North Korea.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is a well-known cinephile who reportedly has a library of 15,000 films. He thinks of himself as a director and has helmed his own propaganda movies.