The Lovers and the Despot
“They were kidnapped by their biggest fan”
Synopsis
Hong Kong, 1978. South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee is kidnapped by North Korean operatives following orders from dictator Kim Jong-il.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2016-06-16
Top Cast
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Paul Courtenay Hyu
Shin Sang-ok
Yuna Shin
Choi Eun-hee
Choi Eun-hee
Self - Actress / Various Roles
Michael Yi
Self - US Intelligence Officer
Shin Jeong-kyun
Self - Choi and Shin's Son
Shin Myung-yim
Self - Choi and Shin's Daughter
Choi Kyung-ok
Self - Choi's Brother
Iain T. A. Hall
Self - RHK Police Inspector (1975-79)
Pierre Rissient
Self - Film Critic
Lee Jang-ho
Self - Filmmaker
David Straub
Self - US SD Officer (1984-86)
Jang Jin-sun
Self - Kim's Former Court Poet
Nishida Tetsuo
Self - Film Critic
Derek Malcolm
Self - Film Critic
Dean S. Robinson
Self - Vienna US Embassy Officer (1985-87)
Shin Sang-ok
Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
Kim Jong-il
Self - Politician (archive footage)
Kim Il-sung
Self - Politician (archive footage)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Streaming Window: 0 DaysEdinburgh International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 23, 2016
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 23, 2016
VOD & Digital Platforms
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ross Adam, Robert Cannan
- Screenplay & Story
- Jim Hession, Robert Cannan, Ross Adam
- Original Score
- Nathan Halpern
- Original Title
- The Lovers and the Despot
- Country of Origin
- France, Netherlands, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, Japanese, Korean
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Studios
- Hellflower Films, Tigerlily Films, Pumpernickel Films, Submarine
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ross Adam, Robert Cannan
Jim Hession, Robert Cannan, Ross Adam
Nathan Halpern
Jim Hession
Ross Adam, Nick Fraser, Robert Cannan, Lizzie Francke, Sheryl Crown
Department Leadership Roster
Ross Adam
Director
Robert Cannan
Director
Ross Adam
Producer
Jim Hession
Editor
Robert Cannan
Producer
Nathan Halpern
Original Music Composer
Natasha Dack Ojumu
Producer
Jim Hession
Writer
Robert Cannan
Writer
Ross Adam
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Lovers and the Despot.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Lovers and the Despot
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Lovers and the Despot about?
Hong Kong, 1978. South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee is kidnapped by North Korean operatives following orders from dictator Kim Jong-il.
Who directed The Lovers and the Despot?
The Lovers and the Despot was directed by Ross Adam, Robert Cannan.
Who stars in The Lovers and the Despot?
The principal cast of The Lovers and the Despot includes Paul Courtenay Hyu, Yuna Shin, Choi Eun-hee, Michael Yi, Shin Jeong-kyun.
When was The Lovers and the Despot released and how long is it?
The Lovers and the Despot was released in 2016 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
Who composed the musical score for The Lovers and the Despot?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Lovers and the Despot was composed by Nathan Halpern.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Lovers and the Despot?
The Lovers and the Despot holds official age classifications: GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).