I just finished watching They Call it Myanmar: Lifting The Curtain, and it was very enlightening to me.Before give my review, let me say: I read a few other reviews, and while they gave low scores, there are points they mentioned which I'd like to discuss.My major point is the mention(s) of 'poverty;' in this documentary - and others - on similar topics, is they point out the people living in 'abject poverty.' What they mean is they're living in a DOLLAR poverty.While watching this - and mentally comparing Myanmar to North Korea (the 1st most 'isolated country'), I couldn't help but notice the very obvious distinctions.The North Koreans were visibly suffering - from both malnutrition, and fear - of their government.Myanmar, by contrast, the people are (apparently) well-fed. While they do not discuss their (no argument from me) 'repressive' government, the overall emotional state of the populace is the direct opposite of North Koreans.I feel that the mention of 'poverty' is more akin to what us westerners believe constitute as 'freedom;' our DOLLAR power.I saw a country full of people who have not (yet) been corrupted with the jack-hammer of us Westerners - our 'gift' of GAP stores, 'REALTY TV,' credit cards, et al.Instead, I saw a country's people who are striving for KNOWLEDGE - who's SPIRIT had NOT been broken.While I DO believe that things need to be fixed, I DON'T wish for the Burmese to have their souls 'sold to the devil' - their beautiful society turned into yet another bland, tourist spot for westerners.I would wish they could have better universities, better government, but, NOT our western 'values.' Saying all this, I found They Call It Myanmar both a fascinating look at a country on the threshold, and it's amazing people.The question is: a 'threshold' to what?

Having lived in Burma for four years, I found the film equally enlightening and disappointing. To the outsider - most of the world - Burma is portrayed in the shortsighted way it is understood in the media: Evil government, beautiful people. To portray Burma in this way is true and real. To focus on this completely is to miss Burma.The film is honest in the views given by locals (easy to recognize by their accents), in their local context and understandings and without global understandings. The film is dishonest in it's lack of vetting of expatriate views. Truly disappointing, seriously lacking journalistic ethics. The expatriates who speak (easy to recognize by their accents) are ignorant of Burma. The female expatriate's view is overly dramatic, too eager to share "hidden knowledge" of Burma, stilted in her understandings. The male expatriate describing trucks at Kyaihto turning over weekly is ridiculous. Personal friends have traveled to Kyaihto throughout their lives many times, and continue to, without incident. And the idea that westerners and tourists have disappeared into Burmese prisons for filming, and less such crimes, is entirely false.Burma is an incredible place to visit, and I would encourage you to. Please do so with utmost respect of the Burmese people, if you decide to go. Consider where your money is flowing, and learn humility from these beautifully timid, humble people.

Yes, Burma is different. I thought this documentary made that point quite well. It's a fascinating look at Burmese culture and society and the conditions that the Burmese people live in. It makes the point that Burma is still very much untouched by the rest of the world, and it includes some fascinating scenes, filmed in spite of the authorities apparently not being very sympathetic to filming. It's obviously very sympathetic to Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader who spent most of two decades under house arrest for her political activities, and she's interviewed extensively and provides a lot of reflections on Burmese culture and history. Special attention is given to the problems in education and health care that the country faces.At the same time, there's some sense of balance to this as well. It's a little bit like "Kimjongilia," for example, except that "Kimjongilia" was obviously opposed to the Kim dynasty in Korea and the movie itself was almost outright appealing for help in getting rid of the dynasty. This film doesn't demonize the authorities (and especially the ruling generals) in the same way. It doesn't portray them in a good light, but it does at least concede that they do what they do because this is how they were raised, and that they really do believe that what they're doing is right for the country. That sort of balanced perspective, even though it's clear that Robert Lieberman, who made the film, is sympathetic to Aung, gives the film greater credibility to me.For a pretty good portrayal of a very mysterious and still isolated land, this deserves a lot of credit. (8/10)

The documentary contains remarkable interviews and footage. Too bad Robert Lieberman keeps insisting on making his presence known at the cost of the documentary's quality and integrity.They Call It Myanmar: Lifting the Curtain could have been a good film. And all in all, it is -- if you can tune out the persistent commentary by Lieberman that adds little to the film other than arrogance.The anonymous comments by Burmese people offer interesting insights into the formerly isolated nation. (Their identities are never revealed in order to protect their safety. The film never addresses, however, the consequences for the Burmese citizens whom Lieberman films without their consent or knowledge.) The footage -- much of which was filmed clandestinely -- offers a fascinating glimpse at parts of Burma. It could have added up to a much better film.