UK Film on N. Korean TV

Gosh! A symptom of sanity from North Korea! On 26 December its state-run TV broadcast Bend It Like Beckham (2002) the UK movie about a girls' football team, starring Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra (above). This is the first time a Western-made film has been shown on North Korean TV, and only 8 minutes were cut. The viewers must have been gobsmacked. They suffer a daily dose of cartoons and propaganda about their wonderful leaders, army and model farms. During the movie a message explained that it was being shown to mark the 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations having been established between North Korea and the UK. This treat for the downtrodden masses was arranged by the British embassy. Nice one, Ambassador.