Burma VJ (2008) review

This really needs to be considered on two levels: on a human level (where it shows the importance of a free press and the courage of journalists) and on a cinematic level (where it's a merely serviceable). Østergaard assembles secretly-shot footage by Burmese video journalists documenting a protest (that ends badly) between the disgusted Burmese people (and local monks) and the ruling junta - the insinuation that modern technology and the collective will of the devoted can usurp dictatorship and oppression is a powerful one (even though, as of my writing this in July of 2010, the country is still in hell), but this picture itself is basically clips you've no doubt seen on CNN or the BBC with a bit of commentary over it. Background information is scarce - I had to pause and turn to Wikipedia for details - so anyone interested in the country's (turbulent) history and on-going issues (particularly the horrific treatment of the very noble Aung San Suu Kyi) will find no clarification here.