Bright Future

In the summer of 1989, the 13th edition of the World Festival of Youth and Students was held in Pyongyang. Thousands of socialist youth from 177 countries celebrated their belief in a better society and international solidarity.

Host country North Korea celebrated this huge event with parades, singing and dancing in the streets, and chanting crowds. But this could not hide the fact that there was unrest within the socialist world family. Some delegations criticized China, which had just brutally crushed the Tiananmen protests. Others felt that North Korea had hijacked the festival with showy propaganda.

The event was documented from the inside by Emilian Urse, an amateur filmmaker and member of the Romanian delegation. The Romanian party members, who were pampered as guests of honor, were to segue into capitalism only a few months later, after dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu was deposed and executed. This makes Bright Future a fascinating historical document with unique footage. At the same time, it is remarkable how relevant the idealism of the festival youth of the time still sounds today.