Scenes of Poverty Banned from Burmese Films

By KYI WAI

New regulations governing Burma’s film industry instruct producers to avoid making movies that depict scenes of poverty.

The regulations have been published by the Myanmar (Burma) Picture Association, but details are still unknown.

Sources said Burma’s film censorship board was concerned that movies depicting poverty would tarnish the country’s image. All movies and video films produced in Burma have to be approved by the board before being shown publicly.

A Rangoon film director said movies dealing with the everyday life of rural people and workers were popular in Burma.

Another Rangoon film director said: “It is a big surprise for me that we now have to avoid making movies about poor people. The new regulations even prevent us using locations which show poverty.”

The new regulations are regarded by moviemakers as a serious blow to a film industry already hamstrung by the lack of adequate finance and shortages of modern equipment. Burma produced only 10 movies in 2007.

In a further development illustrating the sorry state of Burma’s film industry, women were completely absent from this year’s equivalent of the Academy Awards. Only male actors and directors were honored.

One reason being advanced by those in the industry is that the regime followed astrological advice not to allow the selection of women for any of the awards.