Directed by Aung Ko Latt, the film ‘Kayan beauties’ will soon be shown within Myanmar and to international audiences. The film focusses on the lives of young Kayan women and seeks to reveal more about their culture. Pic: Supplied

“KAYAN Beauties” will soon be coming to a movie screen near you, and then to screens across the world, courtesy of veteran movie director Aung Ko Latt. For him, completing this film will mean a 20-year-old dream has come true.

“Shooting is complete and we are now working off-line,” says Aung Ko Latt, a former singer and the owner of the Aung Ko Latt A/V Myanmar production house.

His feature film Kayan Ahla (Kayan Beauties) features the Kayan people of Kayah State. This national race is also called “Padaung”, whose women wear ornamental neck rings of brass. This has the effect of stretching the neck, a rare and strange expression of feminine beauty.

Though Aung Ko Latt is well known for directing television commercials, this will be his first step in the movie industry and he is aiming very high. He wants Myanmar films to be internationally recognised and to establish a good reputation for Myanmar movies in the international film community.

His long quest to capture on film the nature and beautys of these often remote communities began in 1981, when the Christian Society invited him to teach music in these tribal areas. Through his contacts with the people, he learned their traditions and culture.

“I learned a lot about their tastes in food and so forth. I love them. And you can’t compare the simplicity of their way of life with anything else. I immersed myself in their nature, spirits and rituals for three years. But at that time, the only thing I could give them back was music,” the director says passionately.

He cannot forget the days he spent living with them.

When he left the country in 1986 to take an audio and video course in Japan, it occurred to him that he could portray the Kayan through film.

“It was when I was in Japan that, one day, I conceived my dream to make a movie about the Kayan,” he says.

But his time had not yet come. The year 2000 found him at the New York Film Academy, earning a diploma in film-making, and he took many courses in camera operation.

Back home, Aung Ko Latt filled his production house with high-tech HD cameras and editing equipment and became a pioneer of film technology.

Aiming high, he was determined to shoot to international standards. Nothing but the best equipment would do. Alone in the Myanmar film industry, he used high-definition cameras. For the shooting of “Kayan Ahla”, he bought an HDW-F900R, the latest model high-definition camera on the market in 2007.

Aung Ko Latt and his crew filmed from January 28 to April 12, in Kayah State, Southern Shan State and Taunggyi. Some scenes were shot in very remote areas, not without risk.

The script, focusing on the lives of four Kayan women, was written by American Hector Carosso, a friend of the director. In his search for authenticity, Aung Ko Latt trained the local people himself to act in their roles.

“When I went back there again to film, they were so happy and welcomed me warmly. I can sleep at anybody’s home there. They responded to my desire to show their traditions to the world by helping me a lot. I got tremendous support, that money couldn’t buy. If I wanted 100 people, 100 residents would come out to help me,” he says with satisfaction.

But the director acknowledges that it isn’t easy to create a movie that can hold the attention of an audience, especially a foreign audience. “You are telling a story with video and audio. And the movie is sending a message. You have to present all the messages you want to give through the movie within one and a half hours,” Aung Ko Latt says.

“For example, it’s like recommending a Myanmar dish to a foreigner. You have to think whether he can enjoy it or not before you advise him to try. So you can’t cheat, and all the ingredients must be natural. The dish must be perfect with a great smell, good taste and attractive look. So when the foreigner eats it, he will say ‘Wow! It’s really excellent. I’d like to eat Myanmar cooking again’. That’s what I want. I want them to accept us. I took great care over every frame, every line, every colour.”

Having overcome all the challenges, the director says he will send the film to the Myanmar censors’ board this month and then to Singapore or Bangkok for post-production.

When the film is ready, it will screen on the local cinemas and the agent he contacted will distribute it all over the world.

“This is my first feature film, and I expect it to achieve a lot. I feel like I’m a competitor in a boxing match. I feel both brave and fearful,” says an excited Aung Ko Latt.

He said he wanted to be the first Oscar-winning Myanmar director. That is where his talent and expertise, and his 20-year pursuit of his dream, is leading him.