Yangon Calling �€“ Punk in Myanmar

Alexander Dluzak, Carsten Piefke:
Yangon Calling �€“ Punk in Myanmar (Germany, 2012)
60 min. - English, Burmese - English subtitles

Punk rockers in Myanmar? This does not bode well. Although the former military dictatorship has somewhat loosened its grip on the citizens, the country does not lightly accept the rebellious and noisy punk rockers with their mohawks and studded jackets in their subculture activities. The time of the authoritarianism is definitely not over.

For the young Burmese, punk is a radical way to spit all the frustration in the face of the despised government. The songs criticize the miserable living conditions, and scream for freedom and human rights. The first punk rock cassettes arrived in Burma with sailors in the 90s and they ignited a growing movement in Yangon, which the film Yangon Calling by Dluzak and Piefke now presents to the world. The main characters are the leading members of the local punk scene, filmed in secret by the directors without official permission for six months. Small and undetectable cameras followed them in homes, work places, rehearsal rooms and illegal gigs to capture the real underground culture. The voices of people representing the scene and imprisoned during the dictatorship are also heard.

Yangon Calling is a film about a country where punk is still true rebellion and literally a fight for freedom, and not just a random bunch of slogans and a way to dress. The music represents a lifeline amidst the stranglehold of the government and personal hardships. Any talk about the death of punk is much exaggerated, at least when it comes to this vigorous documentary.

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Yangon Calling �€“ Punk in Myanmar

Fri 16th Nov at 3:15pm Tapio 3