Michelle Yeoh is The Lady
- 13 years ago
The true story of Myanmar pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, came to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with the North American premiere of "The Lady".
Suu Kyi's story is brought to the big screen by French director Luc Besson and actress Michelle Yeoh - both perhaps better known for their forays into action and fantasy than political drama.
Fans at the premiere greeted Yeoh, who portrays Suu Kyi, with pictures and posters of the leader whose political and personal struggles are recounted in the film.
The Malaysian actress was herself targeted by Myanmar authorities for taking on the part, being blacklisted and deported when she flew to the country last June.
But Yeoh said there is more to the story than the politics of the role.
SOUNDBITE Actress Michelle Yeoh saying (English):
"What struck us most was it wasn't just that it was set in a political background, but it was an incredible love story of a man and a woman who supported each other whole heartedly and they knew that in case one day her country ever called, she wouldn't have to take the choice on her own. She would have support of her husband."
The film details Suu Kyi's separation from her late British husband Michael Aris, when she was first placed under house arrest in 1989.
While Besson's last attempt at a historical biopic, 1999's "Joan of Arc", was for the most part poorly received the director - who spent two years making "The Lady - said this was a story worth telling.
SOUNDBITE Director, Luc Besson, saying (English):
"And it's such an example and she basically tells us we have the freedom. We can move, we can write papers and sometimes we forgot, how cool it is to be free. So she is here to remind us that we should enjoy it and cherish it, and protect it."
"The Lady" hits North American cinemas during the fall.
Doug MacLaurin reports.
Suu Kyi's story is brought to the big screen by French director Luc Besson and actress Michelle Yeoh - both perhaps better known for their forays into action and fantasy than political drama.
Fans at the premiere greeted Yeoh, who portrays Suu Kyi, with pictures and posters of the leader whose political and personal struggles are recounted in the film.
The Malaysian actress was herself targeted by Myanmar authorities for taking on the part, being blacklisted and deported when she flew to the country last June.
But Yeoh said there is more to the story than the politics of the role.
SOUNDBITE Actress Michelle Yeoh saying (English):
"What struck us most was it wasn't just that it was set in a political background, but it was an incredible love story of a man and a woman who supported each other whole heartedly and they knew that in case one day her country ever called, she wouldn't have to take the choice on her own. She would have support of her husband."
The film details Suu Kyi's separation from her late British husband Michael Aris, when she was first placed under house arrest in 1989.
While Besson's last attempt at a historical biopic, 1999's "Joan of Arc", was for the most part poorly received the director - who spent two years making "The Lady - said this was a story worth telling.
SOUNDBITE Director, Luc Besson, saying (English):
"And it's such an example and she basically tells us we have the freedom. We can move, we can write papers and sometimes we forgot, how cool it is to be free. So she is here to remind us that we should enjoy it and cherish it, and protect it."
"The Lady" hits North American cinemas during the fall.
Doug MacLaurin reports.