Luc Besson directs The Lady, a biopic about the courageous life of pro-Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh) and the political struggles Burma (Myanmar) faced.
The story begins in Ragoon, Burman in 1947 with the brutal assassination of Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, General Aung San and his colleagues by Prime Minister U Saw’s gunmen.
General Aung San was instrumental in leading Burma’s independence from British colonial rule, but his assassination came six months before its final achievement.
Suu Kyi was just two years old when her father was killed but his fight for democracy and freedom shaped the path of her life.
The story continues in Oxford where Suu Kyi is living with her British husband Michael Aris (David Thewlis) and their sons Alex (Jonathan Woodhouse) and Kim (Jonathan Raggett). She is called back to Burma to tend to her dying mother and is caught up in the Burma uprisings. Students took to the streets to demand democratic reform and were gunned down by the military junta in response.
Suu Kyi forms the political party the National League for Democracy and campaigns against the military junta leading to her house arrest and separation from her family in Oxford.
Michelle Yeoh plays Suu Kyi with a strong subtlety that conveys the peaceful and caring way that she led the Burma people towards their fight for democracy.
The film centres on the relationship between Suu Kyi and Michael Aris and the difficulties they faced with their separation and battle against Burma’s political regime. The conflict that Suu Kyi encounters when Michael is diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer is heartbreaking. Michael is refused a visa into Burma so Suu Kyi has to decide between her country and husband. If she leaves Burma she knows that the authorities will not permit her to re-enter the country.
The Lady conveys an interesting account of the amazing life that Suu Kyi has led and the ongoing struggles she faced in her political and personal life.
Unfortunately there seems to be a believable connection missing between Michelle Yeoh, David Thewlis, Jonathan Woodhouse and Jonathan Raggett as a family beyond the surface hugs and sentiments.
The transition between speaking the Myanmar language and English slightly jars because it is strange when the characters start off speaking in Myanamar when they first arrive at Suu Kyi’s house in Burma then move onto speaking English uneasily.
The military junta do appear like caricature baddies at times but the violence and bloodshed shown is brutal and really brings home the atrocities people faced.
The Lady really shows the strength of Suu Kyi and how with tremendous bravery and dignity she was able to give Burma hope in their fight for democracy.
Tweet-size review: Moving account of Aung San Suu Kyi’s fight for Burma’s democracy at her own personal cost.
