The North Korean art house film “A Life Full of Ups and Downs” has been a television staple for years. Yet North Korean audiences are finding it far less compelling than the Chinese television series “Romance of Our Parents.”
“People in rural Ongjin county have been captivated by ‘Romance of Our Parents,’ a 44-episode Chinese drama,” a source in South Hwanghae province told Daily NK recently. “Older viewers especially are drawn to it—they see parts of this fictional story that could have happened in their own lives.”
“Romance of Our Parents” tells a sweeping story spanning fifty years, from 1950 to the early 2000s. At its heart is the love story between a poor military officer from the countryside and an educated woman from a wealthy capitalist family who find each other despite countless obstacles.
Set during the nation’s early years after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, when class identity dominated social life, the drama weaves through major historical upheavals. It depicts the persecution of intellectuals during the anti-rightist campaign, the failed “Great Leap Forward” and its resulting famine, the struggles of the Cultural Revolution, and China’s eventual shift toward valuing individuals after reform and opening up.
What makes the drama special is how it presents ordinary people’s lives with humor and warmth, without melodrama—an approach that resonates deeply with viewers. The show remains popular with Chinese audiences and continues to air regularly on local Chinese networks.
Why North Koreans connect with the Chinese story
“North Koreans say many scenes feel incredibly real and mirror their own experiences,” the source explained. “Like when the male lead gets passed over for promotions because of his wife’s questionable family background, or when the female lead’s sister gets sent to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. Some viewers were moved to tears, remembering their own hardships.”
North Koreans rate “Romance of Our Parents” much higher than their own domestic film “A Life Full of Ups and Downs.” While both works explore the challenges faced by intellectuals from problematic class backgrounds, there’s a crucial difference: the North Korean film shows how these intellectuals, with help from the Workers’ Party of Korea, successfully adapt to the socialist system. Essentially, “A Life Full of Ups and Downs” serves as propaganda promoting socialism’s superiority.
“When it comes to ‘A Life Full of Ups and Downs,’ many people question whether someone from the wrong social class could really turn their life around with the party’s help,” the source said. “People joke that the main character’s life isn’t full of ups and downs—it’s just incredibly lucky.”
“The truth is that no matter how loyal someone is, they’ll never advance if their background is problematic. Not only is their fate sealed, but they pass that fate to their children,” the source continued. “People say if someone like the film’s protagonist actually existed, they’d have to be an exceptional case who received special treatment from the party.”
North Koreans recognize that social class—called songbun—still determines people’s life trajectories. They generally view the “party’s favor” shown in the movie as pure propaganda disconnected from reality.
In essence, while both works deal with social class, the Chinese drama focuses on universal themes of life and love that audiences can relate to, while the North Korean film faces criticism and indifference for its unrealistic portrayal.
