Burma VJ: Reporting From A Closed Country

SBS’ Tuesday night documentary series ‘Hot Docs’ continues to impress, the program consistently delivers thought provoking and insightful documentaries focusing on critical global issues, tonight is no exception.

Screening at 10 pm is the unbelievable Danish documentary ‘Burma VJ’ (which in English speaking countries is subtitled ‘Reporting From A Closed Country.’). The film, by Anders Østergaard focuses on the 2007 uprising and mass protests by the Burmese people against the repressive military Junta, which has held sway in Burma for four decades. The demonstrations, begun by Buddhist monks, spread like wild fire amongst the disenfranchised people, with more than 100,000 taking to the streets, however the peaceful protests were met with callous violence as the authorities sought to eliminate dissent; perhaps worst of all for the Burmese was the speed at which the dictatorship managed to close ranks, banning all foreign journalists, shutting down the internet and even prohibiting the use of personal recording devices, essentially pulling down the shades and shutting Burma off from the rest of the world.

Now the importance of ‘Burma VJ’ becomes apparent, amidst this raging storm of censorship, a group aptly named The Democratic Voice of Burma, risked their own lives to record the events of 2007 guerilla style on hand held cameras, smuggle the footage out of Burma across the Thai border, and then, from safe houses in Thailand, secretly transport the precious evidence of the realities in Burma, to Norway, and to safety, so that more than a year later, the real story could finally be told.

All this tension and sense of urgency is masterfully captured in the way the film has been constructed, which serves to convey real feelings of empathy between the audience and the Burmese people.

This film provides a way for average people around the world to see the dark side of Burma that world leaders seem to go to great lengths to avoid. Courageous and worthwhile filmmaking, ‘Burma VJ’ goes beyond the dollars and cents obsession that has unfortunately come to typify the modern film industry; everyone involved in the films production has instead worked tirelessly towards the acquisition of that most intangible of commodities; the truth. Østergaard’s film is nominated for an academy award this year in the best documentary category, it is a strong field, including the excellent ‘Food, Inc.’ but ‘Burma VJ’ has got my vote, commendable stuff.

11/13 Itches.

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