What should you see, read and listen to before going to Burma?

What films should you see before travelling to Burma?

The Lady

The film, directed by Luc Besson, focuses on the life of the Burmese icon Aung San Suu Kyi, played by the beautiful Michelle Yeoh. Through the beautiful love story which joined her to the British historian Michael Aris, you follow the exceptional journey of this woman who fought tirelessly for her country's democracy . A bit of a weepy melodrama but it's impossible to remain completely unaffected.  

Beyond Rangoon

Burma in the hands of the master John Boorman gives us an epic saga following Laura, played by a very young but full of energy Patricia Arquette, and the student protests in the former capital Rangoonbefore venturing into the depths of the jungle. And the fact that all of that was inspired by a true story will give you shivers for a very long time.

Mystic Ball

Also known as Chinlone. Because you can't miss this game with a small woven ball, dexterously passed from one ankle to another by groups of both young and old Burmese people, so you must prepare yourself before your journey to know all about it. And the best way is still to watch this documentary, made by a lover of the sport who managed to fit into the professional Burmese teams. It's another side of the country, happier, less impacted by politics and an absolute must see.

Rambo IV

Yes, you read that correctly. The latest episode about the adventures of the most muscly soldier from the US takes place in the Burmese jungle and shows - between two explosive fights and three mindless conversations - a certain image of the military dictatorship which has controlled the country for a few decades, especially in the north of the country, a region which is still quite closed off to tourists and where humanitarian missions have difficulties to reach the local people.

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What music should you listen to before a trip to Burma?

Traditional music is what we recommend you listen to above all to introduce yourself to the Burmese folklore. Inspired by Thai and Indian music, you can hear very soothing tones particularly due to the use of gongs. Very often harps and wind instruments (such as the oboe, imported during the British occupation, or the flute) complete the arrangements and sometimes some percussion is added by the singer during more rhythmic pieces, for example at weddings or in shows.

In terms of modern productions, some pop groups like Side Effect and Blood Sugar Politik seem to be in favour with the young Burmese people. If you want to give them a listen, the latter group sings in English. But the new generation seems to be turning towards rock and rap in particular. The proof is with the emblematic rock group Iron Cross and Ye' Lay, a sort of local Justin Bieber!

Which books should you read before going to Burma?

Burmese Days (George Orwell)

Though George Orwell is above all known for his famous 1984, it mustn't be forgotten that the author, who was born in India, lived for a long time in Burma where he worked as a civil servant. Inspired by his own life, Burmese Days follows the ups and downs of Flory, a young Englishman who is disgusted by his peers' racism in a Burma which is even further away from the one of today. A reflective epic, between a love story and an autobiography, to be read in one go.

Burma Chronicles (Guy Delisle)

Known for his biting cartoons, the graphic novelist Guy Delisle, who is also the creator of the graphic novels Pyongyang and Jerusalem, focuses this time on the fourteen months that he spent in the Burmese capital Rangoon, where he accompanied his partner who was working for Médecins sans Frontières. It's a chance for both the author and the reader to discover a dictatorial political regime which is full of contrasts which are just as improbable as they are funny.

A Burmese Odyssey (Pascal Khoo Thwe)

This time we follow the tale of the author in his younger years in Mandalay, then for almost ten years fighting the dictatorship amongst rebels, then his arrival in England, saved by a Cambridge professor who urged him to tell his story after having lived as a recluse in the jungle close to the Thai border. As a result this beautiful testimony is poignant and unmissable.

The Valley of Rubies (Joseph Kessel)

To finish on a lighter note now we follow the French novelist, one of the last century's greatest travellers, who is also responsible for several novels which take us around the world in a few pages. In The Valley of the Rubies, one of his most famous works which was translated into English, the author transports us to an untraceable, almost legendary, city. Mogok, nestled in the depths of the jungle, watched over by tigers, is the home of the most precious stones in Burma. An adventure which holds its own secrets!