New Delhi (Mizzima) - To raise funds for Cyclone Nargis hit victims some Burmese nationals residing in Japan are shooting a Burmese film called "A Lwan Myar Hnint Irrawaddy", which in English is "The Remembrance and Irrawaddy".
Around 50 Burmese, who are naturalized as citizens of Japan are involved in shooting the film based on the 2008 May Cyclone Nargis, which lashed Irrawaddy Delta. It will be released in May 2010 to raise funds across the globe.
Htay Thit, director of the film, told Mizzima "our film focuses on a family with two children living in a village and the village president, who took away their cow as they could not pay back a loan. When Nargis struck their village, their parents were swept away by the floods. Later the brother and sister meet again but the brother is recruited by the Burmese Army. It is also based on events which occurred before Cyclone Nargis ravaged Irrawaddy Delta".
The one and-a-half hour film, recalls how the people were ravaged by Cyclone Nargis especially in Irrawaddy Delta. The subtitle will be in Japanese and English.
Htay Thit is the son of famous Burmese artist Ba Thit. He is well known as a Burmese movie maker and designer with 15 years experience.
He is shooting the film together with Aung Lin Naing, another Burmese director. Director Htay Thit has already made more than 100 Burmese films in Burma.
The film will also reveal how the Burmese military junta had tried to bar international relief agencies after the cyclone and how it hindered relief efforts.
Most of the contributors to the film have not taken money.
"In the film, I acted as the Director of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). We show how Burmese soldiers are taking international relief aids meant for victims of Cyclone Nargis," said Win Aung, who is in charge of the branch of the National League for Democracy in Japan.
The shooting began since six months ago in the delta of Chiba Town in Japan.
"We are looking for places, which are similar to the places hit by Cyclone Nargis for the shooting. Fortunately some are near where we are staying beside the river and we made houses and huts for ourselves," said Thin Thin Soe, wife of the Director Htay Thit.
She said though they had received some funds for the film but most of the money was being spent by the film makers. “We have spent over Yen 1,000,000 (USD over 10,000) but are not sure how much we will end up spending,” she added.
Director Htay Thit said that the expenses will be approximately Yen 1,500,000 (USD over 15,000) to complete shooting the film.
