Return to Burma

  • 84'
  • Taiwan
  • 2011
Wang Xing-hong has been a Burmese guest-worker in Taiwan, but now there have been elections in his country, he decides it’s time to return. During the journey from Rangoon to his birthplace, we hear propaganda songs on the radio about the blessings of democracy. When he sees his mother again after 12 years, she asks: 'Have you eaten?'
With those same words, the mother of filmmaker Midi Z welcomed her son when he returned in 2008 after an absence of 10 years. In early 2011, soon after the elections, Midi Z went back again. This time he brought his camera, to shoot Return to Burma.
Xing-hong has the sad duty of returning the ashes of a friend who had a fatal accident in Taiwan. But there’s also the joy of seeing friends and family. Young people still gather together to sing romantic songs and dream of working in China or even America. Xing-hong's younger brother is about to leave for Malaysia. Xing-hong himself would prefer to stay and goes to markets and smuggling centres to see if there are any opportunities for him.
Return to Burma reflects a poor yet hopeful society in images that follow the countryside and the people's movements and often have a documentary approach. A rare Tiger too, because we don’t see many films from Burma at all.


  • 84'
  • Taiwan
  • 2011
Director
Midi Z
Premiere
European première
Countries of production
Taiwan, Myanmar
Year
2011
Festival Edition
IFFR 2012
Length
84'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Gui lai de ren
Languages
Mandarin, Burmese
Producers
Midi Z, Patrick Mao Huang
Production Companies
Seashore Image Productions, Flash Forward Entertainment
Sales
Flash Forward Entertainment
Screenplay
Midi Z
Cinematography
Midi Z
Editor
Lin Sheng-Wen, Midi Z
Sound Design
Lin Sheng-Wen
Cast
Wang Shin-Hong, Yang Shu-lan
Director
Midi Z
Premiere
European première
Countries of production
Taiwan, Myanmar
Year
2011
Festival Edition
IFFR 2012
Length
84'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Gui lai de ren
Languages
Mandarin, Burmese
Producers
Midi Z, Patrick Mao Huang
Production Companies
Seashore Image Productions, Flash Forward Entertainment
Sales
Flash Forward Entertainment
Screenplay
Midi Z
Cinematography
Midi Z
Editor
Lin Sheng-Wen, Midi Z
Sound Design
Lin Sheng-Wen
Cast
Wang Shin-Hong, Yang Shu-lan