The Lady (2011 film)
Encyclopedia
The Lady is a film directed by Luc Besson
, starring Michelle Yeoh
, and released by EuropaCorp
in France and Entertainment Film Distributors in the UK.
(Yeoh) who spent more than a decade under house arrest. David Thewlis
portrays Suu Kyi's husband, Dr. Michael Aris
.
Rebecca Frayn began working on the project after she and her husband, producer Andy Harries
, visited Burma in the early 1990s. Harries' production company Left Bank Pictures
began development of the script in 2008 under the working title Freedom from Fear. Harries wanted Michelle Yeoh as the lead and had the script sent to her.
Yeoh had brought the project to Besson because she appreciated him for having directed films about strong women before. Besson took the project on but admitted doubts.
Although petite, Yeoh lost weight for this role. Yeoh described the film as "an incredible love story" against the background of "political turmoil". Paris Match
shared her opinion, describing the film as an extraordinary story of love between her deceased husband Michael Aris and a woman who sacrifices her personal happiness for her people.
During the shooting of the film, news broke that Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest had been lifted and Yeoh was allowed to visit her.
On 22 June 2011, Yeoh was deported from Burma, reportedly over her portrayal of Aung San Suu Kyi.
, and is scheduled to be released by the end of 2011.
Cohen Media Group starts the limited Academy Engagement theatrical run in Los Angeles on December 2nd 2011.
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
, starring Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
, and released by EuropaCorp
EuropaCorp
EuropaCorp is a French movie studio headquartered in Paris. It has been a listed company on Euronext Paris since July 2007. Co-founded by Luc Besson and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, the Group takes on a range of production activities like film distribution in France, DVD distribution, sales of French TV...
in France and Entertainment Film Distributors in the UK.
Production
The film is about the life of Aung San Suu KyiAung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
(Yeoh) who spent more than a decade under house arrest. David Thewlis
David Thewlis
David Thewlis is an English actor of stage and screen. His most commercially successful role to date has been that of Remus Lupin, in the Harry Potter film series...
portrays Suu Kyi's husband, Dr. Michael Aris
Michael Aris
Michael Vaillancourt Aris was a leading Western authority on Bhutanese, Tibetan, and Himalayan culture, and wrote numerous books on Buddhism in those regions. He was the husband of Burmese opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi....
.
Rebecca Frayn began working on the project after she and her husband, producer Andy Harries
Andy Harries
Andrew D. M. Harries is a British television and film producer. After graduating from Hull University in the 1970s, Harries began his television career on the Granada Television current affairs series World in Action, before moving on to freelance work...
, visited Burma in the early 1990s. Harries' production company Left Bank Pictures
Left Bank Pictures
Left Bank Pictures is an English film and television production company. It was formed in 2007 by Andy Harries, formerly controller of drama, comedy and film at Granada Productions, and Francis Hopkinson and Marigo Kehoe...
began development of the script in 2008 under the working title Freedom from Fear. Harries wanted Michelle Yeoh as the lead and had the script sent to her.
Yeoh had brought the project to Besson because she appreciated him for having directed films about strong women before. Besson took the project on but admitted doubts.
Although petite, Yeoh lost weight for this role. Yeoh described the film as "an incredible love story" against the background of "political turmoil". Paris Match
Paris Match
Paris Match is a French weekly magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. It was founded in 1949 by the industrialist Jean Prouvost....
shared her opinion, describing the film as an extraordinary story of love between her deceased husband Michael Aris and a woman who sacrifices her personal happiness for her people.
During the shooting of the film, news broke that Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest had been lifted and Yeoh was allowed to visit her.
On 22 June 2011, Yeoh was deported from Burma, reportedly over her portrayal of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Release
The film had its world premiere on 12 September 2011 at the 36th Toronto International Film Festival2011 Toronto International Film Festival
The 36th annual Toronto International Film Festival, was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 8 and September 18, 2011.Buenos Aires, Argentina was selected to be showcased for the 2011 City to City programme. The opening film was From the Sky Down, a documentary film about the band...
, and is scheduled to be released by the end of 2011.
Cohen Media Group starts the limited Academy Engagement theatrical run in Los Angeles on December 2nd 2011.