9 MUSES OF STAR EMPIRE (****)

Spreading across the planet faster than the zombie apocalypse in "The Walking Dead", K-pop - Korean pop music - has, in recent years, become arguably the biggest phenomenon in music worldwide.  9 Muses of Star Empire, a documentary depicting a year in the life of burgeoning K-pop girl group 9 Muses, gives a fairly startling behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to try and put together a hit pop group in South Korea.  With various degrees of dedication - some members of the 9-girl group are wholly devoted to music, while others have little interest in it beyond seeing it as a stepping stone to modeling or acting - for those not dedicated, the grueling rehearsals and perfection demanded by their music company (Star Empire) result in tears, injury, illness, and depression for some.  Not to say the film is depressing, what it IS is revealing; you get a real feel for the pressure on these young people to make it to the top - and develop true compassion for those who fall down along the way, their ambition simply not strong enough to survive the struggle.  (not rated)