This world is full of wondrous things, but they wouldn‘t have much meaning without you.
Burmese saying
Burmese saying
An international balloonist group first visited Myanmar In 1998. Undeterred by critical press reports about the military regime, they wanted to get a bird’s-eye view of the country – to see for themselves what was actually going on. They have been coming every year for thirteen years now, and first encounters have turned into lasting friendships.
But what impressions do these fiery hot-air balloons from afar make on the people here? Do they awaken their dreams, their yearnings for freedom? And how do the people of Burma live their day-to-day lives?
In 2011 we accompany the thirteenth Myanmar Balloon Meeting, and meet various people wherever the wind happens to take us.
Burma, now called Myanmar, is a little-known country to us. Except for negative headlines:
"Nobel Prize winner fighting since decades for free elections".
"Monks protesting".
"Cyclone Nargis kills hundreds of thousands".
"Military regime systematically persecuting political opponents".
But what impressions do these fiery hot-air balloons from afar make on the people here? Do they awaken their dreams, their yearnings for freedom? And how do the people of Burma live their day-to-day lives?
In 2011 we accompany the thirteenth Myanmar Balloon Meeting, and meet various people wherever the wind happens to take us.
Burma, now called Myanmar, is a little-known country to us. Except for negative headlines:
"Nobel Prize winner fighting since decades for free elections".
"Monks protesting".
"Cyclone Nargis kills hundreds of thousands".
"Military regime systematically persecuting political opponents".
"Censorship, child labour and political persecution part of everyday life".
But we soon forget about them.
Should one really tour such a country? A country where an international trade embargo is trying to force a transition to democracy?
An international group of hot-air balloonists has been touring this country for thirteen years. Their encounters raise questions: Why is there no bitterness despite all the problems?
Maybe these people, with their religion and their attitude to life, feel freer than we do with all our restrictive regulations that are supposed to protect us?
Perhaps harmony and tenderness have survived the ravages of time because the modern world has been shut out?
This film tries to find the answers to such questions among perfectly normal people living their everyday life – and the answers are often surprising.
But we soon forget about them.
Should one really tour such a country? A country where an international trade embargo is trying to force a transition to democracy?
An international group of hot-air balloonists has been touring this country for thirteen years. Their encounters raise questions: Why is there no bitterness despite all the problems?
Maybe these people, with their religion and their attitude to life, feel freer than we do with all our restrictive regulations that are supposed to protect us?
Perhaps harmony and tenderness have survived the ravages of time because the modern world has been shut out?
This film tries to find the answers to such questions among perfectly normal people living their everyday life – and the answers are often surprising.
