Third UNSG’s biopic to be made in Myanmar

Published on Saturday, 18 August 2012 07:39

A famous Myanmar movie director will start making a documentary portraying the life of U Thant, the third secretary-general of the United Nations, next year.

Director Waing is undertaking the venture at the request of U Thant’s daughter Daw Aye Aye Thant, who wanted to have a documentary made about her father, one of three world-recognised Myanmar icons along with General Aung San and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The first stage of the documentary has been filmed at U Thant’s house, but the actual filming will not take place until next year.

The director said that he is carrying a special burden of responsibility in making this film so he is taking a year to prepare. He has started collecting photos from past events and will also make a request to the government to obtain data.

After collecting the data about the former UN secretary-general, he will present a draft story to Daw Aye Aye Thant in January.

The director plans to attend a local course and improve his English skills.

He will be travelling to New York, US in August next year to attend a course on documentary film-making and shoot the documentary there. After the film is edited, he will return to the country.

“The main reason is that I want to do a film about a world leader in a way as to create respect and admiration among the youth,” he said.

He wants to screen the film in local schools after it has been released.

Director Waing won the People’s Choice Award at the Art of Freedom Festival in January for the documentary film entitled “Ban That Scene”.

He is currently working on a documentary about land-grabbing issues in the country.