What happens when Dennis Rodman, a few Harlem Globetrotters, and Kim Jong-un meet on a basketball court in one of the most secretive countries on earth?
Watch “The Hermit Kingdom”
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na
Release Date: June 14, 2013
My Review of “The Hermit Kingdom”
“The Hermit Kingdom” is a look inside the bizarre and isolated world of North Korea, where even basketball becomes a tool for diplomacy.
Vice’s team, with Dennis Rodman and 3 Harlem Globetrotters in tow, travels to North Korea to play basketball as a cultural exchange.
The whole idea stemmed from the bizarre fact that both Kim Jong-il and his son, Kim Jong-un, were die-hard Chicago Bulls fans.
I love how sports can bring us even the most fierce enemies together!
North Korea had recently conducted nuclear tests, which made this trip even more delicate. The moment they land in Pyongyang, the filmmakers realize they are in a world unlike any other.
Director Shane Smith (Vice Cofounder & CEO) makes it clear they are never in control. From the start, North Korean minders control every step they take.
Cameras are only pointed where the regime allows, and the oppressive atmosphere is felt immediately.
You can feel the tension when the team arrives at their hotel and sees a banner celebrating North Korea’s recent nuclear test.
Nuclear scientists are even staying at the same hotel. This isn’t just about basketball anymore—it’s a propaganda show, and everyone knows it.
Basketball Diplomacy
Despite the tension, Rodman & the Globetrotters get to work, hosting basketball clinics for North Korean athletes.
But instead of kids, they face the country’s top under-18 players in a massive stadium.
Anthony Blakes, a.k.a. “Buckets,” coaches the North Koreans, using basketball to bridge the language gap.
It’s a strange but genuine moment of connection.
The highlight is meeting Ri Myung-hun, North Korea’s most famous basketball player and, at one time, the tallest man in the sport.
Ri could have played in the NBA, but trade sanctions blocked his dream, leaving him loyal but disappointed.
You Can’t Make This $hit Up
One of the most outlandish moments happens when the Vice crew visits “North Korea’s SeaWorld.”
But here’s the kicker: Kim Jong-un didn’t just fund it, he personally choreographed the entire performance.
Kim Jong-un isn’t just a dictator, he’s a self-proclaimed expert in everything from missile launches to marine choreography.
And that’s just the beginning. In another scene, the group is taken to a high-end mall, filled with shelves of Western products like Coca-Cola, Ruffles, and Doritos.
But the kicker? It’s all for show. The store is eerily empty—no North Korean citizens are allowed inside to buy anything.
The Vice team is the only group in the place, wandering aisles of pristine products that most North Koreans have likely never seen before.
It’s like walking through a bizarre, Soviet-style Truman Show, where the entire country seems staged for foreign eyes.
And here’s another bizarre twist: Rodman, in the middle of their grand tour, ends up playing a pickup basketball game with Kim Jong-un himself.
This isn’t just some handshake photo-op—the leader of one of the most reclusive regimes on the planet jumps into a casual game with the Americans.
To top it off, Dennis Rodman becomes Kim Jong-un’s de facto captain.
Yes, that Dennis Rodman. And after the game?
Rodman gives a bizarre speech, declaring, “You have a friend for life,” to the North Korean leader.
The Rodman Factor
Dennis Rodman’s presence is what pushes this documentary into the realm of the surreal. Rodman becomes the unexpected star, outshining even the basketball games.
He forms an odd bond with Kim Jong-un, culminating in a heartfelt (and slightly awkward) speech after a tie game.
Rodman tells Kim Jong-un, “You have a friend for life,” a statement that’s equal parts cringeworthy and strangely touching.
It’s hard to believe, but somehow, Rodman becomes a diplomatic figure, navigating this bizarre world with his usual larger-than-life style.
The most jaw-dropping moment comes when the team is invited to a private dinner with Kim Jong-un.
It’s a boozy affair, complete with an all-girl band playing the theme from Rocky and Rodman singing “My Way.” For a brief moment, they’re Americans sitting at a table with one of the world’s most notorious dictators.
Propaganda or Progress?
The documentary shows how staged everything is, from the well-lit streets to the empty shopping mall.
Yet, there are moments when real human connections happen—mostly on the basketball court. Basketball, as absurd as it sounds, does manage to create a brief cultural bridge.
Even though everything feels like propaganda, the documentary captures moments that are strangely authentic.
Ri Myung-hun, the former NBA hopeful, is one of those moments. His story about being blocked from pursuing basketball dreams due to politics gives the film a rare emotional depth.
Wrap Up
“The Hermit Kingdom” is a strange, fascinating look inside one of the world’s most closed-off nations.
The filmmakers are trapped in a balancing act, following North Korea’s strict rules while trying to capture meaningful moments. The result is a documentary filled with absurdity, tension, and just enough glimpses of humanity to leave you questioning everything.
Kim Jong-un’s involvement in everything from nuclear tests to dolphin shows is both hilarious and terrifying.
The documentary doesn’t pretend to offer solutions, but it does provide a rare glimpse into North Korea’s propaganda machine.
Through basketball, Vice opened a brief window into the lives of North Koreans, showing that even in the most oppressive places, there’s still room for human connection—however surreal it may be.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly
Chief Maniac, Daily Doc