The Barbed Wire

Beyond the Barbed Wire" is an animated film that follows the journey of Ha-ju, a young girl born into a lineage of shamans in a rural North Korean village. After her mother is executed for practicing shamanism, Ha-ju is raised by her aunt, Yeon-jin, who discovers a new world through South Korean broadcasts. As Ha-ju begins experiencing spiritual awakenings, she and Yeon-jin embark on a perilous escape, guided by the spirit of Ha-ju’s mother, who has returned as a deer. Their journey leads them through the haunting landscapes of the DMZ, where nature thrives in eerie contrast to the division of human lives. Blending folklore, spirituality, and political allegory, the film explores the intersection of tradition and survival, questioning the boundaries between life and death, oppression and liberation.