Burma Taking a Big First Step Culturally

     In Burma, the film industry is nothing to write home about. However, a couple of film makers are looking to make history in this country which has taken little part in celebrating its national identity through mainstream media. Military leadership has in the past put a cap on any portrayals of the life and story of one of Burma's greatest military leaders, General Aung San. Aung San, a revolutionary leader who created the first standing Burmese army, played a vital role in gaining Burma's independence from Britain. He was assassinated about 6 months before Burma officially gained its independence in 1948. To this day, Aung San's name is still well known and respected among Burmese people, but successive military regimes have literally attempted to erase all traces of his legacy. For Americans this would be equivalent to our government disallowing any portrayal of a figure like George Washington in film.




     Finally, however, this "taboo" is being ignored and not one, but two film producers are working to beat one another to the punch in delivering the first portrayal of Aung San in a movie. The effects of this action are far more than just social or cultural. The timing of these films come just before the fall parliamentary elections in which candidate Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of the late general, will be running in opposition of current leader Thein Sein. The director of the movie titled The Last Day of Aung San, Myay Ni Thit Sar, says that he believes his film will "help bring democracy to Burma." The director casted 35 year old barber Kyauk Khae, who has zero acting experience, simply because he looks so similar to Aung San.




     The other film, which has no titled as of this point, is supposedly being over seen by Aung San Suu Kyi herself, which either points to the political implications this film may have for upcoming elections, or is simply a daughter hoping to see that her father's legacy is well remembered and honored.




http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/01/31/burma-movie-aung-san/21396503/