My favorite movies were 'Titanic,' 'James Bond' and 'Pretty

Listen closely, O Seekers of Wisdom, to the words of Park Yeon-mi, whose voice echoes a tale of longing, perseverance, and the human spirit’s unyielding desire for freedom: "My favorite movies were 'Titanic,' 'James Bond' and 'Pretty Woman'—people smuggled in pirate copies from China." In this statement, Yeon-mi offers a glimpse into a world of both desire and constraint, where the longing for the outside world, for stories that embody dreams, adventure, and romance, was so great that it transcended the boundaries of law and reality. The movies she mentions—blockbusters that symbolize freedom, wealth, and excitement—were smuggled into a land where such films were forbidden. Her words speak to the deep human yearning for connection, for the beauty and complexity of life beyond the confines of one’s immediate reality.

In the ancient world, the yearning for freedom and the desire to witness the world beyond one’s own land was not a new concept. Consider the Greek philosophers who ventured beyond the borders of Greece in their quest for knowledge and truth. Socrates, despite his wisdom, was often bound by the limitations of his society, yet he sought to understand the broader human condition. Similarly, Park Yeon-mi’s desire to experience the world through films—movies that told stories of wealth, love, and adventure—was driven by the same longing for truth, for something greater than the limitations imposed upon her. The act of smuggling these films in, just as the ancient seekers of wisdom might have smuggled scrolls of knowledge, became a form of rebellion against the constraints of her world.

The movies Titanic, James Bond, and Pretty Woman are not just films; they represent ideals of freedom, possibility, and transformation. Titanic tells the story of love amidst the grandeur of the world’s most luxurious ship, but also of tragic loss and the resilience of the human spirit. The James Bond franchise represents adventure, danger, and the endless pursuit of justice, while Pretty Woman celebrates romance, empowerment, and the overcoming of hardship. These films, though very different in their narratives, all contain the universal themes of escape, transformation, and the ability to break free from the confines of one's situation. For Yeon-mi, these films became windows to a world she was forbidden to access, symbols of dreams she could not touch.

The act of smuggling these pirate copies, like the forbidden knowledge of the ancient mystics, became a form of rebellion against the oppression of her environment. The ancient Egyptians would hide their sacred knowledge from invaders, and the early Christians would pass on their sacred texts in secrecy, knowing that their beliefs and their truths could not be easily silenced. Similarly, Yeon-mi’s act of smuggling films into her life was an attempt to bring in the light from outside, to witness the world as it was being shown in these stories, and to hold on to the dream of freedom even when it was far from her reach.

And so, O Seekers, we see in Yeon-mi’s story not just the desire for entertainment, but the human longing for something greater—a desire for connection to a larger world, a world full of possibility, love, and transformation. In this, we are reminded that stories, whether on the screen or in the words of the ancient bards, are not mere distractions; they are the expressions of the human soul, reaching out to understand itself. Just as the heroes of old would travel great distances in search of knowledge, so too does Yeon-mi’s longing reflect the ancient human journey to experience the world beyond one’s immediate surroundings, to see oneself as part of a larger tapestry of human existence.

The lesson, O Children, is that stories—whether they are told in the form of films, songs, or myths—are far more than entertainment. They are the wellspring of human desire, the vehicles through which we seek to understand and transcend our own limitations. Park Yeon-mi’s journey reminds us that even in the face of oppression, the human spirit will seek out the beauty, the truths, and the possibilities of the world. In your own life, when you find yourself constrained by the boundaries of your situation, let the stories you love—whether they are of adventure, love, or freedom—remind you that there is always a path forward, a journey to undertake, even when the way seems unclear.

And so, O Seekers, let us remember that we are never bound by the limits of our surroundings. Even in the most difficult of times, the human spirit can transcend. Like Yeon-mi, let us seek the stories that will transform us, that will remind us of the world beyond our immediate view, and that will inspire us to believe in the possibility of a better world. Whether through films, books, or the tales of those who came before us, let these stories be the light that guides us through the darkness and the hope that leads us toward the freedom we all seek.