The big winner of the most glittering night of Myanmar cinema was the State Administration Council ( SAC ), for its artless manipulation of the movie industry and its leaden propaganda efforts.
The 2023 Myanmar Academy Awards were celebrated in “iconic style” in Naypyidaw on February 3, attended by business stars, directors and senior members of the military government who have huge harnessed the impact and glamour of film to boost the prestige of the armed forces.
Running since 1952, this week’s Academy Awards showcased 35 pictures with honors in 12 classes. As expected, the military propaganda film” Saung Nilay Thatae” (” A Red Blanket” ) was a big hit, with wins for best director for Tin Aung Soe ( Pan Myo Taw ) and best actor for veteran performer Yan Aung.
At over two hours and 40 minutes long,” A Red Blanket” is a ponderous exploration of the specious claims of the Myanmar government to show mankind and competence on the frontline. ( This writer reviewed the film for Tea Circle in 2023, in uncharitable fashion ).
In” A Red Blanket”, officers and ranks of the 88 Light Infantry Division face psychotic insurgents of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA ) and through self- examination and Buddhist virtue convince the backward Christians of the Kachin hills that the Myanmar army transcends race and religion and wants to live in harmony with civilians. Unconvincingly, it is “based on a real account”.
There are numerous atrocities depicted, mostly by the KIA, although a major plot is the transition from violent hatred and a thirst for retaliation by the dried squad sergeant Saw Berry, played by best actor winner Yan Aung, to a gruff but benign desire to protect the simple racial minority people of the north hills.
It conforms to all the themes of Burmese military misinformation and years of films with nearly identical storylines. The SAC has been boosting the video for the past month, sending it to local film festivals and making it the standard film for next year’s Armed Forces Day event on March 27.
The Academy Awards meeting was conducted under strict surveillance at Naypyidaw’s Convention Center. Open events such as this are usually prime shipping vehicles for SAC propaganda.
In presence were SAC assistant Vice- Top General Soe Win and Minister for Information Maung Maung Ohn, a former common and brain of the defense Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare who handed out the awards to the 12 winners.
Soe Win reminded the glitterati in attendance,” I would like to strongly desire the performers who are attending the event, to work together with the government for our country, development of our citizens, to keep the love of country and spirit of patriotism dead, national harmony, unity and growth”.
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But then in that mix of encouragement, encouragement and traditional grounding, there is also threat and paranoia.
In nearly the same breath, Soe Win warned,” some are using words like human rights and democracy and saying they worry about it, they are shaking with fear…they are sided with the powerful countries…in such a situation, we must also be aware of foreign dependents, such as individuals with low national morals, puppets and those who receive things in charity or support, who are attacking their own country in various ways to make it unstable, destroy and make the conflicts bigger … ( t ) herefore, I would like to urge the artists to try their best for the benefit of the nation and its people with the right awareness”.
The best film award went to” Kan Kaung” ( The Lucky ). Paing Ta Khon, an actor, design, and social influence, plays a Buddhist monk in the movie as he makes friends with an rambunctious large dog named” The Lucky.”
He has to decide between becoming enlightened, giving up the puppy, and keeping their “attachment.” The actor, who played a significant role in the anti-SAC demonstrations in early 2021 after the revolt d’etat, finds this growth to be interested. Hundreds of Myanmar military troops raided him early in the morning in April of that year, and they arrested him.
He was given a three-year prison term in December 2021 for violating section 505 ( a ) of the penal code, which was strengthened two weeks after the coup by an amendment that forbade spreading fear, false information, or taking any other action that would “hinder, disturb, damage the motivation, discipline, health, and conduct” of security officials.
Paing Ta Khon was granted an asylum in March 2022, and as many regions of Myanmar have fallen victim to fatal issue, he gradually resumed his job and open account. There are still at least 20,000 prisoners, many of whom are under 505 ( a ) charge.
Since many people charged under 505 ( a ) are not released with all charges dismissed in a form of parole for which any further transgression can have them rearrested and imprisoned, it is likely that the actor was forced to sign an agreement to refrain from further public criticism of the regime.
The meeting also emphasizes how the film industry has been captured, as well as how actors, writers, and directors must keep a cordial relationship with the government.
Branding many of these musicians as partners openly is difficult. Living in a dictatorship is n’t usually just about” SAC- good” or” SAC to negative” duality.
Many people in the film industry are required to sign agreements promising not to get involved in politics or face a 505 ( a ) charge, and it’s rumored that many of them had to do so in order to attend the Academy Awards ceremony.
Professionals who want to stay employed must be involved in jobs that portray the military positively, regardless of who finds it believable, so participation in the movie industry is not always about creative freedom.
Then there is blatant problem, cronies, and corruption. Prior to the Academy Awards, Myanmar Today reported that Khin Thiri Thet Mon’s production company 7th Feeling, the daughter of dictator Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has worked on about four of the 12 movies nominated for this year.
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Following the military takeover in 2021, the company was subject to the first round of American sanctions, but it has made an effort to remain active by using a number of movie-related barrel companies. The Lucky, the winning producer and writer of this year’s best movie, both collaborated with 7th Feeling in the past.
Films praising the “achievements” of the Myanmar war are undoubtedly hardly new and date back many years. Oh Hein Aung, a Myanmar philosophical, and his Burma Civil War Museum have looked into the complex and long-standing connections between the government’s propaganda arm and the film industry, some indirectly and others through the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare.
He wrote in the 2023 statement” Are You Talking Really or Just Paying Lip Service” that” Burmese army propaganda movies, TV stories, and songs are made sure to spread on Facebook and descriptions about legal war through the views of Myanmar army were broadly shared by influencers, renowned actors, singers and writers.” Some people did it as a result of the stress from the Myanmar government and army, others acted in this way because they benefited from it, and still others were motivated by the propaganda.
Many actors wrote love letters to soldiers and started organizations like the Blood Love Charity Association in 2015 to aid the military in its campaign against the Kokang insurgents of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army ( MNDAA ). The Kokang area of Laukkai was taken back by the MNDAA after 15 years of armed conflict, and this year’s award ceremony coincides with that.
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People of the Myanmar Comedians Association, a group frequently instructed to issue statements denouncing “terrorist activities,” were likewise present. However, they could be much put to work parodying these kinds of tense situations and the tragic events that surround them.
With so many SAC field losses rising, the film industry is undoubtedly facing a significant obstacle to portraying potential victories.
The government has lost considerable bases in northern Shan state, Karen, and Northeastern states in the last year since” A Purple Blanket” was released in March 2023. Senior leaders have also been killed or surrendered in problems.
Yet the Neverland of the Myanmar film industry is no longer able to paint or claim this fact.
Independent scientist David Scott Mathieson focuses on issue, charitable, and human rights issues.