Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North — Featured by DER SPIEGEL

The German weekly magazine DER SPIEGEL published an online feature on Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North.. The article places the film within the context of recent documentary work engaging with cultural exchange and international collaboration. At the time of publication, the film had also received a nomination for the German Web Video Award in the For Your Information (FYI) category.

The Film in Context

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North is a short documentary I directed and filmed, following the visit of the Munich Chamber Orchestra to Pyongyang, North Korea. The exchange was arranged by the Goethe-Institut Korea and took place within a tightly structured environment. My role was to document the process as it unfolded, without commentary or narration.

Rehearsals and Teaching

The film observes joint orchestra rehearsals at the Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Conservatory, alongside one-to-one chamber music lessons between German musicians and North Korean students. Over three days, these sessions led to a closing concert at the conservatory. Rather than focusing on performance alone, the film stays with preparation, repetition, and exchange.

Working Within Limits

Filming in North Korea meant operating within clear restrictions. Access, movement, and time were limited. Within these conditions, I approached the project observationally. The camera follows gestures, pauses, and moments of concentration, allowing music to structure the film rather than explanation.

Music as Common Ground

Despite differences in language and background, the musicians worked together through shared practice. Rehearsals created a functional space where communication did not rely on words. The film records this form of interaction without framing it as symbolic or conclusive.

A Brief View Inside

The documentary offers a focused glimpse into North Korea’s classical music environment. It does not attempt to describe the broader context from the outside. Instead, it stays close to what happens in rehearsal rooms and on stage, allowing the encounter to speak through its own rhythm.

Continuing Circulation

The feature in DER SPIEGEL added another layer to the film’s circulation, alongside its Vimeo Staff Pick selection and award nomination. For me, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North remains a careful record of a temporary situation—one where music functioned as a shared working language under specific constraints.