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Giant Bunnies Hit Silver Screen

Doc details how N. Korean officials devoured monster rabbits meant for poor

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 18, 2008 12:10 PM CST
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(Newser) – Giant bunnies overran the 2008 Berlin Film Festival, reports Der Spiegel—in the form of a 5-minute documentary on the international intrigue that ensued when a German rabbit breeder sent a dozen of his 20-pounders to North Korea to be bred to help alleviate hunger. Instead, they met a tragic end as part of a birthday feast for playboy-dictator Kim Jong Il.

American filmmaker Johan Onah spent just 4 hours with breeder Karl Szmolinsky, discussing the fall of the Berlin Wall, the ill-fated Korean program, and harassing phone calls from animal rights activists. Szmolinsky, who breeds rabbits the size of small dogs in his spare time, says the 12 the North Koreans ate could have produced 60 more a year, and each could have fed eight people.

This YouTube screenshot shows Karl Szmolinsky holding one of his giant rabbits.
This YouTube screenshot shows Karl Szmolinsky holding one of his giant rabbits.   (YouTube)
Unfortunately, it turns out North Korean officials ate all the giant bunnies sent to them before they could breed or help feed the poor.
Unfortunately, it turns out North Korean officials ate all the giant bunnies sent to them before they could breed or help feed the poor.   (YouTube)
Hippity-hoppity: Karl Szmolinksky's giant rabbits did go toward feeding the hungry in North Korea... just not the poor he'd envisioned.
Hippity-hoppity: Karl Szmolinksky's giant rabbits did go toward feeding the hungry in North Korea... just not the poor he'd envisioned.   (Getty Images)
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The birth of the North Korean rabbit program
Der Spiegel

Full coverage of the film fest
Variety

Breeder's donation goes astray
Associated Press

 
North Korea • rabbits • giant rabbits • East Germany • Kim Jong Il • Berlin Film Festival • Johan Onah • Karl Szmolinsky • Berlinale

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