Burma VJ DVD (2009)

Burma VJ

2009

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

from 694 members

Armed with pocket-sized video cameras, a tenacious band of Burmese reporters face down death to expose the repressive regime controlling their country. In 2007, after decades of self-imposed silence, Burma became headline news across the globe when peaceful Buddhist monks led a massive rebellion. More than 100,000 people took to the streets protesting a cruel dictatorship that has held the country hostage for more than 40 years. Foreign news crews were banned, the Internet was shut down, and Burma was closed to the outside world. So how did we witness these events? Enter the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), aka the Burma VJs. Compiled from the shaky handheld footage of the DVB, acclaimed filmmaker Anders Ostergaard's Burma VJ pulls us into the heat of the moment as the VJs themselves become the target of the Burmese government. Their tactical leader, code-named Joshua, oversees operations from a safe hiding place in Thailand. Via clandestine phone calls, Joshua dispenses his posse of video warriors, who covertly film the abuses in their country, then smuggle their footage across the border into Thailand. Joshua ships the footage to Norway, where it is broadcast back to Burma and the world via satellite. Burma VJ plays like a thriller, all the more scary because it is true.

Burma VJ details

Format:	12 DVD
Director:	Anders Ostergaard
Genre:	Documentary - General
Studio:	DOGWOOF PICTURES

DVD 1 disc

Name	Discs
Burma VJ	12 Feature

DVD Information

Run time:	1 hour 24 minutes
Rental release:	01 Feb 2010
Main languages:	Burmese, English

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Most helpful review Burma VJ

Stunning documentary

By YeovilEd (34 reviews) from London , 17 Feb 2010

[Highly rated reviewer]

This excellent film by Danish director Anders Ostergaard really should be seen. Democracy may sometimes be far from perfect but this documentary is a shocking reminder of the lengths some in power will go to to stay there, despite the overriding will of the people. Shot at great personal risk to the Burmese contributors, it's a credit to their determination - they have succeeded in capturing incredible footage of the protests of 2007, the protesting monks and the junta's reaction to unprecedented public dissent. Dialogue in English and Burmese (all subtitled). Recommended.
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Frightening but inspiring

By nosmig (3 reviews) , 24 Mar 2013

Worth watching if you want to be better informed about the oppression in Burma and the courage of those who wanted to change it. Educational rather than entertainment
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really brings home the suffering of the Burmese people

By a customer , 11 Feb 2013

This is a very moving documentary. Well worth seeing. Having visited Burma in 1977 and been very interested in the troubles this film really appealed to me. I hope these people can make another film to let us see how things are now following the election.
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How is this still happening?

By Barnseytheclaret (190 reviews) from Sheffield , 29 Aug 2010

If you are not moved to help the Burmese people as much as possible after this, I would be amazed. This should be televised - in chapters if necessary - for people to see what is going on there. Watch it, and be informed! Hard to watch in one go, I'd imagine, but gripping stuff at times.
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Very Stunning shocking documentary

By Declan6107 (138 reviews) from Glasgow , 13 Jul 2010

This is one till rent out.As far its really shocking rent it and see for yourself my rating of this docmentary is 5 stars We don't know how lucky we are! .RENT IT OR SAVE 27% AND BUY IT.WELL WORTH HAVING
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An extraordinary undertaking

By a customer from Bradford , 27 Mar 2010

Everyone should watch this film. We don't know how lucky we are!
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