Old film stills from Myanmar

A few years ago, while on assignment in Yangon, I came across a small antique / curiosity / junk shop in the old city center.  I searched through boxes of old photographs and eventually found a pile of old movie stills, many stamped with “British, Burma Film co., ltd – Rangoon” a film production and distribution company established in the 1930’s. While many of the images were stamped, none were dated, making identification quite challenging. Some do have notes on the back, so I will post an update once contacts and friends in Yangon help me gather more info.

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A movie still from what was then known as a “stunt film”

The first film produced in Myanmar was a 1920 silent film called “Myitta nit athuyar,” (Love And Liquor) a tale of  gambling, alcohol and destruction. Later on in the 1930s the British began to censor films with such themes.

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“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?” The classic balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, with a Burmese twist on the wardrobe and probably on the dialogue too. This is one stamped with the British Burma Film co seal, and judging by the decor, most probably a stage production. In 1941 the Japanese bombed most of the movie theaters, during occupation no films were produced, film companies and actors turned to stage productions. Due to the impossibility of acquiring film, an attempt to save precious film stock was made by burying it; but the high temperatures caused the film to deteriorate.

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The “British Burma Film co” seal on the back of one of the prints.

In 1946 film production kick started again but it wasn’t until the early 1950s that much needed extra film stock, new equipment and technical expertise were brought in by reps from international studios such as Universal Studios. The 1950’s were considered to be Myanmar’s cinematic golden years with state of the art studios such as the A1 studios attracting productions from Neighboring Thailand and even the then President U Nu getting involved in script writing in 1953.

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An archer in a scene that could also be a local take on the story of Ekalavya

With the formation of the Revolutionary Council in 1962, things began to change for the local film industry. Although, according to the LA Times , “Censors could be influenced with tea money – and the industry remained relatively vibrant until the mid-1970s.” after the socialist regime’s “reformation” officials insisted that all films should promote the socialist agenda. This obviously hugely restricted the themes filmmakers could tackle.

Absurd decrees such as the 1982 decision stating that actors must make three movies simultaneously further damaged the already chocking industry. After the pro-democracy protests of 1988 which saw many actors and directors take part, the government would regularly ban films because of actor choices and film score choices. To avoid the need for script approval, filmmakers started shooting direct-to-CD and later direct-to-DVD releases.

This along with the growing popularity of pirated foreign films further sealed the fate of the industry and created a huge decline in Cinema goers. Land prices soaring to incredible heights have predictably caused old “standalone” cinemas to be destroyed or targeted for destruction to make way for hastily built business towers. By 2011 cinema numbers nationwide had declined to  71 from their peak of 244, several more have since been destroyed in what is known as “Cinema Row” in Yangon.

The film industry today focuses mainly on TV productions with very rare cinema releases. However, initiatives such as the Yangon Film School and various organizations helping with media and art development, will hopefully help Burmese cinema to grow again.

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Many photographs from the collection feature this type of “almost kiss” in varying stages of closeness, but never quite a Hollywood style embrace.

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A little closer…

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A countryside scene

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The shop owner told me she was very famous, but could not give me a name… Eye lashes and hair point to the 1960’s, possibly Khin Than Nu.

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A confusion of facial expressions in what looks like a countryside scene.

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Two actor portraits

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A family scene, no clues given on this one, but it looks like it’s from the 1950s

Further reading:

A fascinating website documenting the traditional standalone movie theaters in SE Asia including Myanmar:

http://seatheater.blogspot.com/search/label/Myanmar%20-%20Yangon%20Division

On Burmese cinema history:

http://jessicamudditt.com/tag/history-of-burmese-cinema/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Burma

Aung Myint

While working on stories in Yangon, I have had the pleasure of meeting painter and performance artist Aung Myint several times at his home. On a recent visit he kindly posed for a portrait session to include in my Polaroid series.

Considered a pioneer of modern art and a contemporary of Bagyi Aung Soe, he is known for his “Mother and Child” series, line drawings executed with acrylic on traditional Shan paper. He has helped to lead the way through often difficult times, influencing and championing young artists for decades who come to visit him at his gallery and home on Inya Road . In February 2013, the Guggenheim in NYC exhibited one of his pieces.


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© Cedric Arnold – Polaroids – Yangon, Jan 2013 / Portraiture

‘Yangon Awakening’ published in IO Donna

My series of Polaroid portraits – ‘Yangon Awakening’ was published in Italy’s IO Donna magazine last week


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Yangon Photo Festival impressions

I’m back in Bangkok after a highly enjoyable few days at the Yangon Photo Festival.

The brainchild of photographer Christophe Loviny, the festival is now in its 5th year and takes place at the French Institute of Yangon with exhibitions, screenings and workshops. The festival is under the patronage of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Loviny enlisted the help of photographer and gallery owner Nicolas Havette to start a series of workshops for local photographers, and together they have now trained over 150 people. Some of these young photographers are now working for Reuters, AFP and the Myanmar Times.

Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the very talented Min Zayar Oo who now works with Reuters. His work was on show at the festival. His feature on the aftermath of violence in Rakhine State won him one of the awards up for grabs at the Yangon Photo Night, a sort of gala evening and festival closing night held in the gardens of the Institute with slide show screenings and an award ceremony.

© Reuters / Minzayar – L: A puppy stands by remains of a dog local residents said was its mother, days after it was killed in an area burnt in violence at East Pikesake ward in Kyaukphyu November 6, 2012. R: People sit amongst ruins of a burnt neighborhood at East Pikesake ward in Kyaukphyu November 5, 2012.

Min Zayar Oo or “Minzayar” (his byline) first picked up a camera just over 2 and a half years ago, enrolled in a workshop run by Loviny and started fine tuning his photography skills. He decided to follow Aung San Suu Kyi on the campaign trail last year “whether I had good skills or not” he told me. But his persistence paid off, working as a fixer and photographer with Reuters Bangkok bureau chief photographer Damir Sagolj during the run-up to the elections – the day after the election results were announced, his picture (below) made the front page of the Herald Tribune.

© Reuters / Minzayar – Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi waves to supporters as she leaves the office of her National League for Democracy (NLD) after giving a speech in Yangon.

The festival’s exhibits were displayed all over the Institute’s compound including the garden, I particularly enjoyed Bruno Quinquet’s take on Tokyo with his project, “Salaryman” .

Salaryman Project © Bruno Quinquet

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Quinquet describes the work as such: “The Salaryman Project is on a double mission. On one hand, it explores images of masculinity and normality in the world of Tokyo office workers. On the other hand, it is an observation of the sense of the season in the Japanese capital.”

Also, I had the privilege of meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and taking her around my exhibition ‘Yangon Awakening’ on the Yangon Photo night. Photo: Pyay Kyaw Myint

It was a pleasure to spend time with all the photographers and young talent who participated in the workshops. Look out for the program of next year’s edition of the festival, as the event is gaining momentum and is very much worth the trip to Yangon.

Yangon Photo Festival Exhibitions:

Yangon Awakening – by Cedric Arnold
Democracy – by Aung Pyae, Minzayar and Pyay Kyaw Myint
Earth and Heaven – by Marianne Niermans
Freedom – by Fernando Moleres
Homage to Remi Ochlik
Intended Consequences – by Jonathan Torgovnik
Libera Me – by Zhao Qiu Ying
Paris – by Yann Layma
Salaryman Project – by Bruno Quinquet
Sangatte – by Hervé Lequeux

http://www.yangonphoto.com

Front page in Switzerland

Front page of today’s Tages-Anzeiger newspaper in Switzerland featuring my Yangon pictures

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Yangon Photo Festival

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‘Yangon Awakening’ on show at Yangon Photo festival

My personal project ‘Yangon Awakening’ will be on show at the Yangon Photo festival From Feb 13th 2013

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Festival website: www.yangonphoto.com

Yangon

Concerts, night time strolls, water fights… Shot between assignments in Yangon this year.

Indie rock band Side Effect perform in Yangon

Monsoon storms hit downtown Yangon

One of the many heavily damaged colonial era buildings in downtown Yangon

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Morning alms in downtown Yangon

Burmese new year – partying at the water festival

Punk band No U Turn at their rehearsal space…

‘Yangon Awakening’ Featured in Newsweek

Images from my series of Polaroid portraits – ‘Yangon Awakening’ are in this week’s edition of Newsweek international.

Inside spread:


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One of the images is on the cover of the Asia edition.

You can view the whole set here: http://www.cedricarnold.com/Polaroid.html