The Red Chapel

The Red Chapel

Looking for laughs in North Korea?

Directed by Mads Brügger

Produced by Zentropa Entertainments

201088 min7.2 / 10

A darkly comedic documentary that uses humor as a lens to expose the absurdity and oppression of a totalitarian regime while navigating the constant surveillance and control of its subjects.

Two Danish comedians join the director on a trip to North Korea, where they have been allowed access under the pretext of wanting to perform a vaudeville act.

Questions people ask

  • Is The Red Chapel scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 94% of films.

  • Does The Red Chapel end with hope? Barely. Less hopeful than 83% of films.

  • Is The Red Chapel sad? Somewhat. More sad than 70% of films.

  • Is The Red Chapel violent? Not especially. Less violent than 64% of films.

  • Is The Red Chapel easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

78/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Distinctly its own thing.

Rarity77

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise83

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love75

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Red Chapel

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Red Chapel

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Red Chapel, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Red Chapel, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Red Chapel, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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