By Danielle Cherry
Set in 1990, “The Lady” portrays the life of Aung San (Michelle Yeoh), a political activist in Burma, fighting for a democratic republic. Before her leadership, Burma was under strict militant rule, having no tolerance for activism of any kind.
Aung San’s relationship with Burma is strained; her father, a political activist himself, took steps to make Burma free, but was murdered before any real change occurred. When university students begin rioting for freedom, Aung San is moved to support her country.
Playing a controversial political leader isn’t easy, but Yeoh brought a deep level of emotionality and nuance to Aung San. Yeoh beautifully balanced Aung San’s compassion and fervor with her stubborn and dismissive behavior. Born Malaysian, Yeoh took great efforts to learn Burmese in a way that would sound authentic. Her performance did not disappoint.
Supported by David Thewils, playing Michael Aris, the depth in their marriage was emotionally charged and raw. Their chemistry was the heart of this movie, playing into every micro-decision.
Family is a key theme in this movie, prevailing through all the hardships and political decisions. Aung San wrestles with fighting for her country and fighting to be with her family, bringing the audience along on her emotional journey of indecision.
To portray her wrestling, the film takes on two parallel yet distant timelines: Aung San in Burma, and her husband and two boys in Oxford, England. The extreme cutting back and forth between the timelines visually creates a divide between her two worlds.
Music coaxes a certain tone throughout the film, indicating when a political protest is about to turn south. Throughout the film, the music reflects Aung San’s emotional trauma, while also acting as a symbol of hope for change, even for those who oppose Aung San.
The film doesn’t hold back from portraying the graphic violence seen during this time in Burma. Yet every portrayal of a violent act is intentional in showcasing the deep need for change.
Lighting was crucial in furthering the atmosphere of the film. Beginning the film with rich orange colors, leading into a phase of deep blues, the film uses dramatic color shifts to highlight the emotional state of Aung San
International films are able to portray a unique insight into the real struggles and trauma much of the world has faced. These films shed light on cultures and history we might be unfamiliar with.
All of us have felt hopeless and distant from family at some point in our lives. “The Lady” portrayed emotional longing in a beautiful way that helped cure a level of longing deep within me that I was unaware of. Especially striking was the multicultural strain Aung San experienced, grappling with how to balance values and traditions from both England and Burma.
“The Lady” gives the audience a chance to learn more about Burma and its rich yet traumatic history. The topics of this film cause us to question what lengths we would go to for family and for our home and how both of those come at a great cost.
“The Lady” is currently available on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Danielle Cherry is a freshman Communications major and writer for Cedars A&E and Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and loves a good cup of coffee.
Images courtesy of Sony Pictures
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