Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North — Featured in DIE ZEIT
The German weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT published an in-depth feature on Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North, a documentary I directed and filmed in North Korea. The article places the film within a broader discussion of cultural exchange and music as a form of dialogue. The documentary has previously been selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick and nominated for the German Web Video Award.
Music as a Working Language
As highlighted in DIE ZEIT, the film follows the visit of the Munich Chamber Orchestra to Pyongyang. The musicians took part in joint rehearsals at the Kim Won Gyun Conservatory, alongside individual chamber music sessions with North Korean students. Rather than focusing on performance alone, the film observes rehearsal processes, moments of adjustment, and shared concentration.
Filming a Cultural Encounter
I approached the project as an observational documentary. My focus stayed on the interactions between musicians, the structure of rehearsals, and the atmosphere surrounding the closing concert. The camera remains close, allowing gestures, timing, and silence to shape the narrative. This method avoids commentary and leaves space for interpretation.
A Temporary Space for Exchange
Musicians from Germany and North Korea worked within clear constraints. Language barriers, protocol, and limited time defined the encounter. Still, music created a shared framework. Over several days, this framework allowed cooperation to develop without explanation or mediation. The film documents this process without attempting to resolve its contradictions.
The Role of the Goethe-Institut
The exchange was organized by the Goethe-Institut Korea. Its program emphasized collaboration rather than representation. Lessons, rehearsals, and the final concert formed a working structure that enabled dialogue through practice.
A Quiet Record
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North offers a rare look into North Korea’s classical music environment. Within a controlled setting, the film records a brief moment of openness shaped by curiosity and shared work. The feature in DIE ZEIT situates the documentary as a careful observation of music functioning as a temporary common ground, rather than as a symbolic gesture.
