Myanmar gets first glimpse of its most famous director Midi Z’s film, The Road to Mandalay
Country’s film industry gets a boost after decades of repression, and hopes are high for the future, although censorship is still an issue
Myanmar’s only internationally recognised director, Midi Z, has shown his work in his home country for the first time, calling the screening a “historical moment” for a nation emerging from decades of military oppression.
The Road to Mandalay, a tragic love story about two Myanmese workers who travel illegally to Thailand in search of a better life, was shown to a packed cinema in Yangon on Monday night.
Midi Z, who at age 33 has collected numerous international awards and been nominated for an Oscar, said he felt nervous showing the film to his compatriots.
Born in Myanmar’s Shan state, he moved to Taiwan when he was 16 but has frequently returned to Myanmar to shoot films – often without the former junta’s knowledge.
“Maybe it’s just one screening but for me it’s very important – a historical moment,” the rising star said on Tuesday.
“For more than 50 years we didn’t have a chance to screen a film which expressed, explained a situation linked to our real situation.”
Rules have eased since the junta ceded power in 2011 and hopes are high that the new democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi will scrap lingering controls.