A rare glimpse into the world of North Korea’s classical musicians

North Korea’s totalitarian state occasionally allows outside visitors but only as part of controlled, small-scale private tours and cultural exchanges. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North captures one such exchange, arranged by the Goethe Institut, in which members of the Munich Chamber Orchestra visit the Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Conservatory to give lessons to North Korean students, and ultimately perform a concert alongside local musicians. While the musicians from each country are separated by a significant language barrier and profoundly different experiences of the world, a subtle but powerful dialogue between cultures emerges, fuelled by curiosity and a shared love of music.