Burma VJ is a moving and shocking account of the popular protests that broke out across Rangoon in 2007.
It relies entirely on documentary footage shot by undercover reporters which has been pieced together to form a picture of the events that took place over a few months. It covers the initial protests, which broke out in response to a rise in fuel prices, to the brutal crackdown by the authorities in response.
By piecing together and editing hours of footage that was smuggled out of the country, director Anders Ostergaard creates a compelling narrative and useful reference to the events that took place in the normally secretive and reclusive country.
As well as vividly seeing what happened on the streets, we are also brought close to Burma's video-journalists who, at great risk to themselves, shoot and smuggle the footage out to maintain a constant flow of news from the country, in a bid to bring about change.
Burma VJ is particularly good at juxtaposing the initial feeling of hope that surrounded the protest marches with the subsequent crackdown. The images that were beamed worldwide of monks processing through the streets, applauded by people from the rooftops, are soon replaced by truckloads of soldiers firing tear gas into the crowds to disperse them. We are also given a sense of the number of protestors and journalists that were arrested and who disappeared.
The film is a rare and moving insight into a country and regime that still remains largely shut off from the rest of the world. - WILLIAM LEE
