History repeats itself in Anders Østergaard’s riveting documentary, Burma VJ (2008). Mirroring a strike in 1988 in which the Burmese military junta mowed down 3,000 peaceful demonstrators, the 2007 protests exposed in this harrowing documentary are a searing indictment of totalitarianism and resonate especially with the current conflict in Iran. The discord began in Burma over doubled fuel prices and escalated from minor scuffles in the marketplace to bloodshed in the streets. Østergaard uncovers the clandestine video journalists belonging to the Democratic Voice of Burma who risk their lives to record the flagrant violation of civil liberties and smuggle the footage out of the country. Wielding their cameras as weapons of social justice, the Burma VJs combat propaganda with the power of technology and truth on their side. In the end, this exhilarating and inspiring film does not dwell on defeat, but rather champions an underground movement of resistance and resilience. (Liesl Swanbeck)
Opens at Landmark Theatres Friday, July 17th
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