Burmese documentaries 1

Black Lady Sings

Singing and dancing has been Mon Masein’s passion since childhood. In her heyday, ‘Black Lady’ as she is affectionately known, was a celebrated performer of Mon dances, allegorical ballads and humorous duets dating back at least three hundred years to the last Mon kingdom. But now, as her voice begins to fail and her limbs stiffen, the 76-year-old wonders if she will succeed in handing over the baton to a new generation of performers before it’s too late.
“In Myanmar, successive governments have consistently neglected and often repressed the traditional cultures of the country’s many ethnic groups – including my own group, the Mon. My protagonist has dedicated her whole life to an ancient Mon art form that is at risk of disappearing when the ageing members of her troupe are no more. This film is my way of paying homage to one woman’s determination to halt that process.” 

2024 - DCP - color - 31 mn - OB burmese with english subtitles - French electronic subtitles - International Premiere
Diffusion : 2024