The Class
The Lady
“The Lady” is a historical movie based on a life story of a political icon and a Nobel Price winner Aung San Suu Kyi. It is directed by Luc Besson and won a number of awards since the day of its release in 2011. It is a historical drama that tells a story of a struggle, fight, and love of the woman called the lady or the iron orchid.
1. What key event happened in 1947, as depicted early in the film, and how do you feel this may have affected the young Aung San Suu Kyi’s attitude toward politics in her later life?Aung San Suu Kyi is a daughter of the modern Burmese army founder, general Aung San. Her father saw the country democratic and independent and was killed for his political views in 1947. That was a key event since she decided it was her duty to continue what her father was doing and dedicated her life to politics.
2. Why did Aung San Suu Kyi return to Burma in 1988, and how did she become involved in the political situation there? Why do you think she became involved, even though she had not previously been involved in politics? During the demonstrations which overtook Burma in 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi’s mother felt ill.Aung San Suu Kyi went to her home country to visit her mother at the hospital. She ended up in the center of the bloodshed and saw soldiers killing innocent people and students. She realized that people need a new leader that will lead them to freedom and democracy and they chose Aung San Suu Kyi themselves. People asked her to stay in the country and finish what her father died for.
3. What key event happened in 1990, and what were the reactions of Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters, as well as the reaction of the military rulers? In 1990 a military junta of the country called the first election in the last 40 years. Aung San Suu Kyi and her party gained a convincing victory and received a hope for justice and a new country. Nevertheless, the military rules arrested supporters of the National League for Democracy and put their leader under house arrest. The authorities decided to remain their power under any circumstance.
4. What key event happened toAung San Suu Kyi and her family in 1991? The Lady's husband, scholar Michael Aris was her best friend and supported her despite the distance and other obstacles. In 1991 he prepared the necessary materials to nominate Aung San Suu Kyi for the Nobel Peace Prize. He truly believed that woman like her deserved it and hoped that the recognition would help him and his sons to see their mom more often. Aung San Suu Kyi won the Prize but was under a house arrest, she could not leave the country, but her family arrived in Stockholm and received the diploma and the medal for her.
5. What was Aung San Suu Kyi’s family situation during her years of house arrest, and what were some of the challenges she faced regarding her family life? At the beginning of the first three years of house arrestAung San Suu Kyi’s husband tried to visit her but was deported to London. They did not see each other till the Lady was released. It was especially difficult for kids to live through this separation, however, the real test was still to come. Her freedom was not long lasting and Aung San Suu Kyi’s spent another 12 years under house arrest. During the periods of her release, she was still afraid to leave the country as she knew that the military junta would never let her come back again. There were many challenges Aung San Suu Kyi faced regarding her family life. She was not able to see her husband and her sons since the attempts to visit their mom and wife began to continuously terminate in a visa refusal. She neither was able to see her husband when he was in the hospital nor to come to London when he died. Aung San Suu Kyi also faced difficulties in the relationship with her sons since they expected their mom to pay more attention to them and come back to the family which never happened.
6. What happened in the family of Aung San Suu Kyi in 1998? Why couldn’t she see her husband during this tragic period? Why do you feel Aung San Suu Kyi acted as she did? In 1998, Aung San Suu Kyi's husband was diagnosed with cancer, which he hesitated to tell her about. When he finally wrote his wife a letter and told about the illness, she had to choose between the country and the family since the government won't open Michael a visa. He kept getting denials until he finally gave up, was hospitalized and died. Aung San Suu Kyi decided to stay in Burma because she knew that if she leaves the country she will never come back. I think that she acted as she did because that was what Michael asked her to do and leaving the country would be the end of everything that they suffered for together.
