As if I needed any further proof that Kim Jong-Il is completely insane, my friend Paul Zucker showed up for dinner earlier this week with an unexpected gift: On the Art of the Cinema, Kim's absolutely bizarre treatise on good movies and revolution. Written in 1973, 13 years before Kim kidnapped South Korean director Shin Sang-Ok and his ex-wife, actress Che Eun-Hui, and kept them for eight years while making them produce propaganda films, the book reads like a 329-page spoof written by the staff of The Onion.

Chapter subheadings include:
"A screen portrayal demands first-class filming techniques"
"Make-up is a noble art"
"The assistant director is a creative worker"
"A song with unfailing appeal is a true masterpiece"

On the Art of the Cinema currently has a five-star rating on Amazon (three reviews). List price: $27.50, with free super-saver shipping.
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# posted by Matthew Ross @ 2/18/2005 12:33:00 PM

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