It's not a surprise that it's a movie from the 90s simply because actually there aren't no more American movie like this : a movie that puts a common (not famous) woman in the spotlight, that supports (civil) war victims, that denounces violence and that have no gratuitous sex ! As it happens in Burma, the movie is great for exotic vacations and really transcendent with Buddhism spirit : joy is only temporary and above all, violence isn't the answer for violence : like the old professor says, if we kill our enemies because they kill us, we become like them ! It's so true that everybody forgets it today like welcoming refugees ! The movie also really gets me because i'm writing a world tour novel and it happens i'm in Burma now after getting out Thailand (the reverse of the movie) : so i know the Karen and the desolated, poor way of life: outside the few cities, it's the jungle and the huts, with indeed checkpoints and corrupted soldiers, and for sure Buddhas everywhere ! Patricia may be a shy, quiet girl but she is very courageous to act in those conditions and she shows a strong spirit and find her own illumination! Her old friend is amazing and embodies all the oriental wisdom ! For a movie i watched to check Frances filmography, she ended here as a nice bonus !

I always wanted to see this film and when I finally got to I knew I was in for a nice surprise when John Boorman's name appeared on the screen. Known mostly for his epic films (he directed the first Conan and wrote Apocalypse Now) put together in the classic Hollywood structure, this one fits nicely with his catalog.I also can't express how perfect the timing was considering that Myanmar (Burma) is once again experiencing an uprising by monks and students against the military "junta" run government which is the very same one (there has been a change of leadership since but it's essentially the same) depicted in the movie from 1988. Now more than ever this film needs to be aired on television (caught it on IFC) because of recent events.

This film should be seen by as many people as possible as it concentrates on the human rights problems in Burma. When I first watched this film in the mid 1990's it totally changed my life. I knew very little about Aung San Suu Kyi or her democracy movement. It effected me so I wanted to understand more about the situation. Any film that has the power to make you want to learn more has done its job properly. Patricia Arquette is superb as the American lady who due to personal tragedy has become reckless with her own life decisions and gets caught up in the ensuing conflict. It is a powerful film about a subject matter which deserves more publicity. As the film itself says the 1988 massacre of Pro democracy activists was not televised and therefore largely went unnoticed to the world. I implore everyone reading these comments to take the time to find out more about the current plight of the Burmese people.It is about time this film was released on DVD. Can anything be done?

Certainly this proves beyond a shadow of doubt that Patricia Arquette is what she is promoted to be: An ACTRESS! This is undoubtedly her finest moment of Acting and she certainly deserves the credit for her work. Never in any of her other movies, with the possible exception of Holy Matrimony, has she been totally believable and authentic.PLot: A young woman finds herself in southeast Asia and is suddenly thrown into the political havoc of the countryside. She witnesses mass murder and totalitarianism and escapes.It is one movie that you MUST see or you have not seen all of Hollywood's finest. I rank it 58 in the top 100 films of all time.Thanks Bob