Perspectives from Myanmar, Myanmar Cinema Classics—The Daughter of Japan by Nyi Pu
This programme is conceived by 3-ACT, a non-profit film community organisation in Myanmar that initiates projects to support new forms of storytelling. Examining past and present social commentary in Burmese cinema, this film selection consists of early classics by established directors—First Class by Tha Du and The Daughter of Japan by Nyi Pu—and an anthology of experimental short films by contemporary filmmakers like Moe Myat May Zarchi, Kaung Myat Thu Kyaw and Lin Htet Aung.
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3-ACT was founded in 2018 by local filmmakers in Yangon. Although well-known in Myanmar, it is only now being discovered by cinephiles elsewhere, and has been featured in local and global media including The Myanmar Times, NHK, Nikkei Asian Review and famous French cinema magazine Cahier Du Cinema. 3-ACT has three main activities: publishing, programming and education. 3-ACT publishes a bilingual cinema magazine which is the only educational film publication in Myanmar which showcases new research. They also organize and curate film programmes, such as the MEMORY! International Film Festival, the Japanese Film Festival, Myanmar, and recently, the Ecological Futurism exhibition at Ambika P3, London, UK. 3-ACT’s education initiatives include teaching Burmese cinema history at Yangon Film School, running workshops for experimental filmmakers, and organising panel discussions and talks at film festivals.
For more information on 3-ACT magazine, see: https://www.3-actfilm.com/3act-cinema-magazine
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MYANMAR CINEMA CLASSICS
Myanmar has a long history of filmmaking, but too many early titles have been lost. New research by 3-ACT, as well as other organisations such as Save Myanmar Film and other archives across Asia, continue to uncover new and exciting cinematic discoveries. In this programme, two important Myanmar classic films—both never before screened in Singapore—reveal the rich and varied nature of Myanmar’s cinema history, which continues to inspire filmmakers and cinephiles today.
THE DAUGHTER OF JAPAN
By Nyi Pu
Myanmar | In Burmese with English subtitles | 1935 | 84 min | Exempted from classification
Singapore Premiere
Two young Burmese brothers and pilots visit Japan, hoping to fulfill their long-held dream of completing a nonstop flight from Tokyo to Rangoon (present day Yangon). Upon their arrival, the elder of the two falls in love with a Japanese woman named Emiko, casting a shadow over not only their flight plans but also the brothers’ relationship.
Directed by and starring Nyi Pu, the “father of Myanmar film”, the film was the first ever Japanese-Myanmar co-production. It was produced with the support of P.C.L. Film Productions and went on to be a big box-office hit in Myanmar.
Nyi Pu (b. 1900, Myanmar; d. 1996, Myanmar) is considered to be the first film actor in Myanmar cinema and was one of the accomplished film directors from A1 films. He participated in the First University Strike against the British rulers. Later, Nyi Pu worked together with the photographer Maung Maung and attempted to make films. In 1920, he starred in the first Burmese feature film Myitta Ne Athuyar (Love and Liquor) as the protagonist. Later, he also became a filmmaker and made many films of different genres. Most of his films are silent and shot in black-and-white.
As part of this programme, there will be a free curator tour of the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery on Sunday 3 July, 11am. Participants will be brought on a tour of related artworks by celebrated Burmese artists like U Ba Nyan and San Minn. The tour will focus on modern art in Myanmar and the society to which it relates. Please click ‘BOOK TOUR’ to register.
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