Hollywood production company Imagine Entertainment and South Korea’s Desert Bloom Pictures have confirmed the casting of actors Won Ji-an and Jamila Jamil in the joint US-Korean feature film “Pyongyang Home Video” (감독 윤성현). Directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, known for films like “The Watchman,” the Netflix original movie “Time to Hunt,” and the Coupang Play series “Newtopia,” the film is inspired by true events. “Pyongyang Home Video” follows two sisters who grew up watching illegally distributed Hollywood VHS tapes in North Korea, using their imagination to navigate life and eventually reunite dramatically.
In the film, the characters Nari (played by Won Ji-an) and Hana grow up secretly watching Hollywood movies, but their father’s underground video smuggling operation is exposed by a neighbor’s report, leading them to defect to South Korea. Despite the challenges they face on their journey, the sisters hold onto memories of their favorite movie scenes, never letting go of the thread of life. Five years later, Nari meets the popular American talk show host Serena (played by Jamila Jamil) and attempts to reunite with her sister live on air, but the process takes an unexpected turn.
Renowned novelist and writer Liz Kerin, known for the “Night’s Edge” series, wrote the screenplay for the film. Producer Janice Chua from “Crazy Rich Asians” is involved in the production through Imagine Entertainment, while Desert Bloom Pictures, led by CEO Lee Yoo-jung, known for projects like “Along with the Gods” and Apple TV+ series “The Big Door Prize,” is also a co-producer. Desert Bloom Pictures, co-founded by Hugh Cha and producer Park Hyung-jin of “Pyomyo,” has been actively engaged in domestic and international production activities through various partnerships with Desert Bloom and their independent projects.
Won Ji-an made a strong impression with her debut in the Netflix original series “D.P.” and solidified her presence on the global stage with her role in “Squid Game Season 2.” For her upcoming works, she is set to showcase diverse acting transformations in the JTBC drama “Waiting for the Barbarians,” Disney+ series “Made in Korea,” and espionage thriller “Polaris.”
Jamila Jamil, known as an actress, writer, broadcaster, and activist, gained attention from global fans for her role as Tahani in the Netflix sitcom “The Good Place.” She voiced the character Questa in the Pixar animation “Elio,” set to release in 2025, and appeared in Netflix films like “A Merry Little Ex-Mas” and “People We Meet on Vacation.” Her TV appearances include “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” “Bumper in Berlin,” “Poker Face,” and “Star Trek: Prodigy.”
Producer Janice Chua commented, “‘Pyongyang Home Video’ is a powerful work that showcases the resilience of imagination. I still remember the moment when I first shared this story with CEO Lee Yoo-jung, and her deep empathy for it.” She added, “This film is a joyful, liberating, and healing piece of work driven by the power of storytelling. It is incredibly meaningful to bring this vision to life with exceptional creators from the US and Korea.”
CEO Lee Yoo-jung of Desert Bloom Pictures expressed, “This project aligns perfectly with the direction we have long pursued. We wanted to capture the regional specificity of Korea while resonating with emotions that can be understood worldwide, and in that sense, I believe the strength of this story is significant.”
Co-CEOs Park Hyung-jin and Hugh Cha of Pyomyo stated, “As ‘Pyongyang Home Video’ is set in Korea, we believe that the precise execution of local production and efficient operation will greatly impact the completion of the film. Through close collaboration with Desert Bloom Pictures, we plan to implement a production system that meets international standards.”