UNDERNEATH the film poster, which shows a fat woman, smiling oddly and dressed like a jester, a group of people queue at a ticket counter. This downtown cinema – like most in Yangon – is showing another locally-produced comedy.

Some in the industry say that, by churning out comedies, local production houses are simply responding to audience demand.

But director Mg Myo Min says comedy is the only viable genre in modern Myanmar cinema.

“There are many weaknesses in today’s film production industry. We don’t have the financial capability to create action, science-fiction and war movies, while there are strict rules that hamper the production of romance films. I think most people have enough drama in their life already without needing to watch more in the cinema, so comedy is really the only genre left that we can produce,” Mg Myo Min says, pointing out that the two or three drama movies released in 2008 also featured strong comic elements.

He says that he expects comedy to continue to dominate local cinema in 2009 but a few producers will take a punt and create drama films.

Daw Aye Aye Win, owner of Lucky Seven Film Production, also predicted comedy to continue its dominance in 2009.

“People from all sections of society enjoy comedy, as it is a form of escapism and they don’t have to think too much. Whereas drama and action movies used to be the most popular, comedy was the most-watched last year. The film Hot Shot – which we produced – was Myanmar’s highest grossing film of 2008,” she said.

Moviegoer Ko Zayar Lin said Hot Shot was one of the better films released last year. He also enjoyed the romantic comedy Nge Thu Moe Ma Theat Bar (Don’t Know Because I’m Young), starring Chit Thu Wai, but said many local movies try too hard to have a happy ending.

“We don’t always need a happy ending to keep the audience satisfied. Instead, the ending should be reasonable and match with the rest of the plot – we don’t need a happy ending just for the sake of it,” he said.

He said that he and his friends enjoy seeing creativity in local movies and expect production houses to be a bit adventurous.

“We watch a local movie at the cinema nearly every month and most of these are comedies but we also expect to see good drama movies being made,” he said.

“I know that a tragic film isn’t that appealing to people who want to watch a movie for the fun of it, rather than the creativity and realism. But I don’t always want to watch comedies, I want to see other kinds of film as well,” he said.

Mg Myo Min said that, regardless of the genre, film production depended on the teamwork and relationship between the censorship board, the producer, director and actors.

“We have to cooperate to create a good quality film with a new idea that can catch the attention of the audience.”