Cinema of Myanmar
Encyclopedia
The cinema of Burma has a long history dating back to the 1910s. The person who created the first silent film was U Ohn Maung (Burma's first producer and director). He is known today as Burma's "film father".
. It was captured with a second-hand camera by U Ohn Maung and was screened at the Royal Cinema, near Scott Market (now Bogyoke Market
), which belonged to a Mr Achar, a friend of U Ohn Maung. Despite its documentary nature, the Burmese public was very proud of the film, which opened with the notice "Please accept our apologies for the poor quality of the film".
U Ohn Maung then founded The Burma Film Company to produce and direct more films. He hired U Nyi Pu
(Burma's first actor) to shoot the first Burmese silent film
Myitta Nit Thuyar (Love and Liquor
) which proved a major success, despite its poor quality due to a fixed camera position and inadequate film accessories. The film opened with the title "Burma Film Presents: Love and Liquor" but there were no credits or mention of the cast. It was based on a story by P Moe Nin
about how gambling and alcohol destroyed a man's life. The day the film premiered, October 13, 1920, is commemorated annually as Myanmar Movie Day.
Fox
of America
asked for Burmese nature study scenes and bought them from U Ohn Maung. He also acquired more advanced film accessories and camera from the Kodak Company.
During the 1920s and 1930s, many Burmese-owned film companies (such as A1, New Burma, British Burma, The Imperial, Bandoola and Yan Gyi Aung) made and produced several films. Some of the famous directors of this era were Nyi Pu,U Sunny, Toke Kyi, and Tin Pe.
The first Burmese sound film
was produced in 1932 in Bombay, India
with the title Ngwe Pay Lo Ma Ya (Money Can't Buy It) and directed by Toke Kyi. Films dealing with social issues and political themes became popular in the 1930s. Parrot Film Company
produced films that addressed social issues such as gambling and police corruption
, although the films were censored by the British colonial government. There were also films that were banned like Dou Daung Lan (Our Peacock Flag) in 1936 and Aung Thabyay (The Triumphant Jambul
) in 1937. The political film Boycott was directed by the student leader Ko Nu
in 1937 and starred other student leaders such as Aung San
and Htun Ohn. The censors allowed this film to be shown.
Many of the films from this era no longer exist due to the lack of adequate preservation.
, Burmese cinema continued to address political themes. Many of the films produced in the early Cold War
era had a strong propaganda element to them. The film Palè Myetyay (Tear of Pearl), produced in the wake of the Kuomintang invasion of Burma in the 1950s, highlighted the importance of the armed forces or Tatmadaw to the country. Ludu Aung Than (The People Win Through) featured anti-Communist propaganda. The script was written by U Nu who served as Prime Minister during the 1950s.
The famous film maker and author U Thu Kha started producing films during this period. His most famous film is Bawa Thanthaya (The Life Cycle). Burma held its first Academy Awards in 1952. Starting with the Socialist era in 1962, there was strict censorship and control of film scripts.
The actor Kyaw Hein
became the most well-known Burmese actor.
, the film industry has been increasingly controlled by the government. After the 1989 move by the government to open up the economy, the movie industry was privatized. The film company Mingalar became the most powerful company in the industry. Film stars who had been involved in the political activities of the 1980s and 1990s, such as Aung Lwin and Tun Wai, were banned from appearing in films. The films of some directors such as Win Pe have also been banned. The government issues strict rules on censorship
and largely determines who produces films, as well as who gets academy awards.
Over the years, the movie industry has also shifted to producing many lower budget films that are distributed cheaply as video tapes and VCD
s. These serve as substitutes for the lack of television and cable broadcasting in Burma.
Most of the movies produced nowadays are comedies. In 2008, only 10 films worthy of being considered for an Academy Award were made, although at least 800 VCDs were produced.
The novel Thway (Blood) by Ma Ma Lei
was also made into a film in a joint Japanese-Burmese production during the last decade.
Kyi Soe Tun
is a veteran filmmaker has who has made 34 movies in his 25-year career and who also served as the chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
. Now the chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
is U Myint Thein Pe.
Start of the Burmese cinema
Burma's first film was a recording of the funeral of U Tun Shein - a leading politician of the 1910s, who campaigned for Burmese independence in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was captured with a second-hand camera by U Ohn Maung and was screened at the Royal Cinema, near Scott Market (now Bogyoke Market
Bogyoke Market
Bogyoke Aung San Market is a major bazaar located in Pabedan township in downtown Yangon, Myanmar. Known for its colonial architecture and inner cobblestone streets, the market is a major tourist destination, dominated by antique, Burmese handicraft and jewellery shops, art galleries, and clothing...
), which belonged to a Mr Achar, a friend of U Ohn Maung. Despite its documentary nature, the Burmese public was very proud of the film, which opened with the notice "Please accept our apologies for the poor quality of the film".
U Ohn Maung then founded The Burma Film Company to produce and direct more films. He hired U Nyi Pu
Nyi Pu
Nyi Pu was a Burmese actor and film director. He was the first film actor in Burmese cinema. His youngest brother was Tin Maung, an accomplished film director.-Biography:...
(Burma's first actor) to shoot the first Burmese silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
Myitta Nit Thuyar (Love and Liquor
Love and Liquor
Love and Liquor is a 1920 Burmese silent film directed by Ohn Maung, written by P Moe Nin and starring Nyi Pu. It was the first Burmese feature film, and the day it premiered, October 13, 1920, is commemorated annually as Myanmar Movie Day.-Plot:...
) which proved a major success, despite its poor quality due to a fixed camera position and inadequate film accessories. The film opened with the title "Burma Film Presents: Love and Liquor" but there were no credits or mention of the cast. It was based on a story by P Moe Nin
P Moe Nin
P Moe Nin was one of Burma’s most prolific and treasured writers. His writing style differed from that prevalent in Burma at the time, writing concisely and clearly. Because of this, he is often regarded as the father of Burmese short story writing and the modern Burmese novel...
about how gambling and alcohol destroyed a man's life. The day the film premiered, October 13, 1920, is commemorated annually as Myanmar Movie Day.
Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
asked for Burmese nature study scenes and bought them from U Ohn Maung. He also acquired more advanced film accessories and camera from the Kodak Company.
During the 1920s and 1930s, many Burmese-owned film companies (such as A1, New Burma, British Burma, The Imperial, Bandoola and Yan Gyi Aung) made and produced several films. Some of the famous directors of this era were Nyi Pu,U Sunny, Toke Kyi, and Tin Pe.
The first Burmese sound film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
was produced in 1932 in Bombay, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with the title Ngwe Pay Lo Ma Ya (Money Can't Buy It) and directed by Toke Kyi. Films dealing with social issues and political themes became popular in the 1930s. Parrot Film Company
Parrot Film Company
The Parrot Film Company was one of the earliest film companies in Burmese film history. Based in Rangoon, the company was owned by Mr Major Parrot, a British man. But the company was not started as a film company. It started as a taxi company....
produced films that addressed social issues such as gambling and police corruption
Police corruption
Police corruption is a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain financial benefits, other personal gain, or career advancement for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest....
, although the films were censored by the British colonial government. There were also films that were banned like Dou Daung Lan (Our Peacock Flag) in 1936 and Aung Thabyay (The Triumphant Jambul
Jambul
Jambul is an evergreen tropical tree in the flowering plant family Myrtaceae. Jambul is native to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia...
) in 1937. The political film Boycott was directed by the student leader Ko Nu
U Nu
For other people with the Burmese name Nu, see Nu .U Nu was a leading Burmese nationalist and political figure of the 20th century...
in 1937 and starred other student leaders such as Aung San
Aung San
Bogyoke Aung San ; 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw....
and Htun Ohn. The censors allowed this film to be shown.
Many of the films from this era no longer exist due to the lack of adequate preservation.
Cold War era
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Burmese cinema continued to address political themes. Many of the films produced in the early Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era had a strong propaganda element to them. The film Palè Myetyay (Tear of Pearl), produced in the wake of the Kuomintang invasion of Burma in the 1950s, highlighted the importance of the armed forces or Tatmadaw to the country. Ludu Aung Than (The People Win Through) featured anti-Communist propaganda. The script was written by U Nu who served as Prime Minister during the 1950s.
The famous film maker and author U Thu Kha started producing films during this period. His most famous film is Bawa Thanthaya (The Life Cycle). Burma held its first Academy Awards in 1952. Starting with the Socialist era in 1962, there was strict censorship and control of film scripts.
The actor Kyaw Hein
Kyaw Hein
Kyaw Hein is a five-time Myanmar Academy Award winning Burmese film actor, film director and singer. Born Kyaw Htay , Kyaw Hein starred in hundreds of films, and directed several films, and was considered one of the most important actors in Burmese cinema...
became the most well-known Burmese actor.
Recent history
In the era that followed the political events of 19888888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
, the film industry has been increasingly controlled by the government. After the 1989 move by the government to open up the economy, the movie industry was privatized. The film company Mingalar became the most powerful company in the industry. Film stars who had been involved in the political activities of the 1980s and 1990s, such as Aung Lwin and Tun Wai, were banned from appearing in films. The films of some directors such as Win Pe have also been banned. The government issues strict rules on censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
and largely determines who produces films, as well as who gets academy awards.
Over the years, the movie industry has also shifted to producing many lower budget films that are distributed cheaply as video tapes and VCD
VCD
VCD is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* VCD Athletic, semi-professional football team* Video CD* Voice command device* Value change dump * Vocal cord dysfunction* Visual Communication and Design...
s. These serve as substitutes for the lack of television and cable broadcasting in Burma.
Most of the movies produced nowadays are comedies. In 2008, only 10 films worthy of being considered for an Academy Award were made, although at least 800 VCDs were produced.
The novel Thway (Blood) by Ma Ma Lei
Ma Ma Lei
Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest Burmese writers of 20th century. Her stories are known for authentic portrayals of modern Burmese society. Along with Ludu Daw Amar, Ma Ma Lay was one of a few female publishers in Burma...
was also made into a film in a joint Japanese-Burmese production during the last decade.
Kyi Soe Tun
Kyi Soe Tun
Kyi Soe Tun is a five-time Myanmar Academy Award winning film director, producer and screenwriter of Burmese cinema. He served as the chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization.-Biography:...
is a veteran filmmaker has who has made 34 movies in his 25-year career and who also served as the chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
Myanmar Motion Picture Organization is the official non-profit organization for the Cinema of Burma. It was established on March 8, 1946.-Patron of Myanmar Motion Picture Organization:*Bokalay U Tin Aung, Musician and Opera Professional...
. Now the chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
Myanmar Motion Picture Organization is the official non-profit organization for the Cinema of Burma. It was established on March 8, 1946.-Patron of Myanmar Motion Picture Organization:*Bokalay U Tin Aung, Musician and Opera Professional...
is U Myint Thein Pe.
Burmese film companies
- Amyotha
- Barani
- Chitthu
- Country Star
- Dawei
- Everest
- Hlaing film production
- Kadipayinkyin
- Khin sabei Oo film production
- Kyae Mone
- Kyaw Zay
- Kyaytagon
- Lin
- Lucky Seven
- LuSwankung
- Ma Ha Htun
- Malikha
- Mittayangpyan
- Moe Kaung Kin
- Myanma Motion Picture Enterprise
- Myatharaphu
- Myintmitta
- Myo
- National Network Inc.
- Nawarat
- New Htat Tang
- Novel
- Ohtthaphaya
- Pan Wai Wai
- Papermoon
- Pataukpinlan
- Phoenix
- Pon Taung Myay
- Pyiphyomyat
- Sein Htay
- Sein War Ni
- Seintharaphu
- Shwe Taung
- Shwe Zin Oo
- Snow White
- Thazin
- Thirithanda
- Thukhamei
- War War Win Shwe
- Ye Kyaw Thu
- Ywat Sein
- Zan
- Zinyaw
External links
- Film scripts in Burmese for some Burmese films, Minlouthamya Kyeinate [Do what you'd like], Be Bagyi Yeilou Mami [So Beautiful It Can't Be Painted], Sonyei Zatlan [Water Going Up-River]
- Burma film festival in Thailand
- Hollywood representations of Burma