Karen Stokkendal Poulsen and Face2Face host David Peck talk about her new film On The Inside of A Military Dictatorship, democratic reform, compromise, trust and privilege, personal interest, corruption and power.
Synopsis:
The film tells the story of how the military of Myanmar stepped into the shadow after 50 years of dictatorship, while the democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who the military had kept in house arrest for 20 years, became the leader of the country. The story is unusual because the two parties keep having a strange grip on each other: the military with their control of the countries’ resources, Aung San Suu Kyi with her control of the people.
It’s the story of how power struggles unfold and how political enemies can end up being closer than the ones they claim to fight for: the people. They play in the same field and get to know each other on close hold and it changes them.
It is a two-egged sword, though: compromise can be the way forward to reconcile a painful past. It can unfortunately also be a way of trapping each other and leave the visions behind. In Myanmar it is a complex mix of both.
About the Director:
Karen is a documentary filmmaker. She graduated with a Master of Arts in “Screen Documentary” from Goldsmiths College, London, in 2008.
In addition to her work as a director, Karen has an educational background in Political Science, in which she holds a bachelor’s and Masters degree from the University of Copenhagen. Parallel with her studies she has worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has lectured a course in International Relations at the University of Copenhagen.
Her documentary the Agreement was selected for competition at CPH:DOX 2013 and for the Dragon award at Göteborg International Film Festival, the human rights festival and many more.
Image Copyright: Karen Stokkendal Poulsen and First Hand Films. Used with permission.
F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission.
For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.
With thanks to Josh Snethlage and Mixed Media Sound.
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