Laibach is a band that formed in 1980 in what was then Yugoslavia, now Slovenia, as an art rock project that aimed to fight fascism by wrapping itself in the uniforms and symbols of fascism and using highly militarized sounding beats to obscure its actual anti-fascist agenda. Dangerous enough in Tito's Yugoslavia, this film suggests that they felt a bit "orphaned" when that country broke up following Tito's death, but they have continued on writing and performing. Fast forward to 2015, when North Korea celebrates its 70th "Liberation Day," the day in 1945 when Japan (which had occupied Korea for decades) was finally kicked out of the country, and Kim Jung Il became the first Beloved Leader of the modern age. Why would North Korea invite Laibach to perform at a major theatre in Pyonyang to celebrate that day? Not sure that can be really explained, but it actually did happen, and "Liberation Day" is the documentary about that event. The co- director Morten Traavik had visited North Korea in the past and also directed various Laibach videos, and somehow he managed to set this thing up. The film is really interesting in terms of how the band had to work with North Korean workers to set up their stage and various multimedia inputs that they use in their live shows; but honestly, the very premise of the film - North Korea invites an anti-fascist Western band that fights fascism by emulating it to extremes! - is worth the price of admission on its very own. Oh, and if you don't know Laibach, check out their version of "Sympathy for the Devil" or "Life is Life" on YouTube to get a flavour of how they might choose to render, oh, for example, the soundtrack for "The Sound of Music" - as they did for this event.
