The Lady (2011)

Director:

Luc Besson

Writer:

Rebecca Frayn (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 November 2011 (France)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

From House Arrest to Parliament

Plot:

The story of Aung San Suu Kyi as she becomes the core of Burma's democracy movement, and her relationship with her husband, writer Michael Aris.

Plot Keywords:

Democracy | Burma | Ill Mother | Same Actor Playing Twin Role | Year 1947

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Michelle Yeoh	...	Aung San Suu Kyi
David Thewlis	...	Michael Aris
Jonathan Raggett	...	Kim Aris
Jonathan Woodhouse	...	Alexander Aris
Susan Wooldridge	...	Lucinda Philips
Benedict Wong	...	Karma Phuntsho
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Flint Bangkok	...	Nyo Ohn Myint
Guy Barwell	...	Military Policeman
Sahajak Boonthanakit	...	Leo Nichols
Antony Hickling	...	BBC journalist (voice)
William Hope	...	James Baker
Teerawat Mulvilai	...	Soldier / Bad News
Agga Poechit	...	Tan Shwe
Victoria Sanvalli	...	Ma Then
Nay Myo Thant	...	Win Thein
Danny Toeng	...	Colonel Than Tun
Dujdao Vadhanapakorn	...	Nita May
Frank Walmsley	...	BBC Journalist
Marian Yu	...	Daw Khin Yi
Bruce Blain	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Paul Brennen	...	Dr. Jones (uncredited)
Martin John King	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Akira Koieyama	...	Japanese Delegate (uncredited)

Directed by
Luc Besson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rebecca Frayn		screenplay

Produced by
Luc Besson	....	producer
Andy Harries	....	producer
Didier Hoarau	....	line producer
Jane Robertson	....	line producer: UK
Virginie Silla	....	producer
Jean Todt	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Serra

Cinematography by
Thierry Arbogast

Film Editing by
Julien Rey

Casting by
Raweeporn 'Non' Srimonju

Production Design by
Hugues Tissandier

Art Direction by
Gilles Boillot
Dominique Moisan
Stéphane Robuchon
Thierry Zemmour

Set Decoration by
Evelyne Tissandier
Jackie Yau

Costume Design by
Olivier Bériot

Makeup Department
Sarah Jane Marks	....	hair stylist: dailies
Stéphane Robert	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
David Edouard	....	assistant unit manager
Marc Guidetti	....	unit manager
David Lemenan	....	assistant unit manager
Anchittha Phongchub	....	production manager: Thailand
Dorothée Santucci	....	assistant unit manager
William Trillaud	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ludovic Bernard	....	first assistant director
Christel Bordon	....	second assistant director
Lucie Gratas	....	third assistant director
Ian Hughes	....	third assistant director: UK
Tippawan Mamanee	....	second assistant director: Thailand
Charlie Sungkawess	....	first assistant director: Thailand

Art Department
Nick Ainsworth	....	graphic artist: UK
Pascal Chevé	....	plasterer
Charlie Clerc	....	graphic artist
Peter Fentem	....	assistant property master
Paulo Gonçalves	....	assistant art director
Justin Hayzelden	....	chargehand dressing props
Cédric Maserati	....	props
Guy Monbillard	....	set dresser
Olivier Nguyen	....	property master
Prachya Pitapho	....	assistant art director
Scott Rogers	....	props master: UK

Sound Department
Nicolas Bourgeois	....	assistant sound editor
Marco Casanova	....	assistant sound editor
Matthieu Dallaporta	....	sound re-recording mixer
Najib El Yafi	....	sound recordist
Alexandre Hernandez	....	sound editor
Didier Lozahic	....	sound re-recording mixer
Florian Penot	....	assistant foley artist
Jonathan Rimas	....	vo recordist
Ken Yasumoto	....	sound mixer
Ken Yasumoto	....	supervising sound editor

Visual Effects by
Alain Bignet	....	digital compositor
Emilien Breuillier	....	matchmove artist (as Breuillier Emilien)
Florian Chauvet	....	visual effects coordinator
Christophe Dehaene	....	digital compositor
Napame Emilia	....	digital compositor
Adrien Garcia	....	digital compositor
Aurélien Grand	....	retouch and restoration
Marc Largier	....	digital compositor
Guillaume Le Gouez	....	digital compositor
Mathieu Legros	....	digital compositor
Jean-Francois Michelas	....	digital compositor
Fredrik Monteil	....	digital compositor
Rodney Musso	....	assistant colorist
Arnaud Ortmann	....	digital compositor
Gregory Peczinka	....	cloth lead: Duran
François Pellae	....	credits designer
Vincent Perzo	....	digital compositor
Joel Pinto	....	visual effects supervisor
Elisa Pretta	....	digital compositor
Alrik Prevel	....	digital compositor
Laurent Ripoll	....	visual effects editor
David Sanchez	....	digital compositor
Niranjan Siva	....	digital compositor

Camera and Electrical Department
Stéphane Birzin	....	grip
Magali Bragard	....	still photographer
Mathieu Caudroy	....	steadicam operator
Isabelle Duquesnoy	....	assistant camera
Laurent Martin	....	rigging grip
Vincent Richard	....	first assistant camera
René-Pierre Rouaux	....	second assistant camera
Vincent Tulasne	....	digital video assist operator

Casting Department
Marie-Sylvie Caillierez	....	extras casting
Yann Le Boucher	....	extras casting assistant
Supattra 'Pum' Punyadee	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frédéric Tournant	....	costumes coordinator
Nat Turner	....	costume assistant: UK

Editorial Department
Chloé Besomi	....	post-production runner
Fabien Pascal	....	film colorist
Flora Volpelière	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Nicolas Duport	....	music recordist
Didier Lozahic	....	music mixer
Alexandre Mahout	....	music supervisor
Eric Serra	....	musician

Other crew
Isabelle Agid	....	personal assistant to director
Simon Baber	....	assistant location manager: UK
Daisy Baldry	....	production assistant: UK
Tony Carter	....	floor runner: UK
Mel Churcher	....	dialogue coach: Michelle Yeoh
Alex Cox	....	location manager: UK
Romuald Drault	....	production accountant supervisor
Christine Fontaine	....	assistant production coordinator: UK
Fiona Harper	....	production assistant
Grégoire Jeudy	....	crowd marshall
Sam Johnson	....	location assistant
Nisso Kaboulova	....	assistant to post-production (as Nisse Kaboulova)
Nisso Kaboulova	....	assistant to post-production
Nichakamon Khajorn	....	production staff
Philippe Letode	....	location scout: Paris
Shefali Malhoutra	....	development producer
Supat Nirantarai	....	production coordinator
Damien Noguer	....	crowd marshall
Serena Nutting	....	assistant production coordinator: UK
Nick Page	....	floor runner: UK
Samavee Pummoung	....	production assistant
Isabelle Querrioux	....	script supervisor
Jo Wallett	....	production coordinator: uk
Denis Wray	....	production accountant: UK

Production Companies

• Europa Corp. (co-production)
• Left Bank Pictures (co-production)
• France 2 Cinéma (co-production)
• Canal+ (participation)
• France Télévision (participation)

Distributors

• EuropaCorp. Distribution (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2011) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cohen Media Group (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2011) (UK) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Kadokawa Pictures (2012) (Japan) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Pathé Films (2011) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Film Distributors (2012) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Golden Scene (2012) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2012) (Denmark) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2012) (Finland) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2012) (Norway) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2012) (Sweden) (all media)
• Twin Pics (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2011) (Germany) (all media)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2012) (Portugal) (all media)

Other Companies

• Compuhire  computer playback (UK)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Europa Corp.  funding

Also Known As:

"Lady" - Poland (imdb display title)
"The Lady - Ein geteiltes Herz" - Germany (imdb display title)
"The Lady - Um Coração Dividido" - Portugal (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence including some bloody images

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

France | UK

Language:

English | Burmese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | China:(Banned) | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA15+ | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG12 | Netherlands:16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Europa Corp.

Trivia:

While the movie was being filmed - at least in Bangkok - the working title was "Dans la Lumiere" ("Into the Light").

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Maltin on Movies: The Cabin in the Woods (#1.71)" (2012)

The Steel Orchid or Burmas First Lady as Told in this film?

Nobody should criticise the drama directing or entertainment value of a film like this which offers an intimate insight into the struggle of one human being to fulfil a humanitarian cause for her country, Mynanmar.

Quite by chance, I watched WE yesterday, another love story with a twist directed by Madonna. As for the Lady, both Michelle Yeogh and David Threwlis are excellent throughout in the two leading roles. the film is as much about their devotion to their each other as it is to the cause of Burma (or Mynanmar if you like).

What disappointed me was that there was no translation for whenever Burmese was spoken in the movie and so I had no idea what was being said. furthermore, the end credits were in French and I could not understand them either.

Considering the political nature of the movie and the profile of the woman in focus, I thought it was a surprisingly unpolitical film and the Burmese Generals came across as a bunch of puffs who had no idea to connect with the people they ruled and controlled.

I also agree that the ending was rushed after Mikeys death and more time could have been spent to balance the story to the present day but that is the directors prerogative and I am not criticising in any way.

I remember the Ghandi movie and as much as I liked this movie, sorry, the overall quality of this movie cannot be compared to Ghandi.

Terrific film, have a few hankies at the ready and be ready to grab a hand or two when things taken a sudden turn!