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The Star
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Myanmar's century-old cinema legacy fickers amid dark times
PHNOM PENH: The vibrant spirit of Myanmar's cinemas in 1920 still echoes in Yangon today. In June, as rains flooded Yangon streets, theatres premiered Mingala Pwe (The Wedding) and Just a Bazaar Seller, But So Haughty. Two Nights and Three Days and The Boat are set for release in August. These comedies and romances offer more than just escapism - they are a testament to the resilience of Myanmar's film industry, which continues to adapt and thrive against all odds. "Myanmar audiences like going to cinemas to watch or spend their leisure time more than in other South-East Asian country, despite being in a digital age. "It may be due to the country having fewer activities or exhibitions for people to enjoy as well. The majority of the movie goers are also people from the rural areas, and the only form of content seems to be going to cinemas in those areas,' Yangon-based television series director Min Thant Maung Maung told Bernama. He is the son of popular director Zin Yaw Maung Maung and actress May Than Nu. The flickering silver screens continue to bring joy to a country that has endured multiple hardships through its history - natural disasters, military dictatorship and economic hardship. Cinemas have survived the most challenging periods in Myanmar's complex history, including the British colonial era, the socialism of the 1960s to 1980s, democratic governments, and military regimes. Filmmakers face strict censorship, technological limitations, and financial struggles to produce movies, ranging from love triangles to slapstick comedies and thrilling narratives that captivate loyal audiences. "After (General) Ne Win's coup in 1962, ticket sales increased by 40 per cent seven years later. The average Burmese person was attending the movies seven times a year,' Australian National University anthropologist Dr Jane M Ferguson told Bernama. She said that when censorship was strict during the socialist era, 2,600 feature-length films were produced. "Even though they would critique the socialist years as being the impoverished ones, they would still have fond memories of these films. "They would remember the handsome actor, the beautiful actress, the problems of the overplaying mother-in-law, and all sorts of love triangle repetitions you can imagine. "Those story lines probably fit into the environment then for the local audience,' said Dr M Ferguson, who authored Silver Screens and Golden Dreams: A Social History of Burmese Cinema, published last year. The film journey in Myanmar, then Burma, began in 1920, when the first silent black and white feature film, Metta Hnint Thura (Love and Liquor), was released. Myanmar's beauties - its diverse 135 ethnic groups, cuisine, festivals, beaches, music and film - are often eclipsed by political upheavals and natural calamities. They seldom made international headlines. Cinema remains the hallmark of the country's entertainment, with about 150 movies produced annually on average. Today, about 150 movie theatres have survived the gloom and doom. Power outages, censorship and security issues have not prevented local films from attracting audiences. Regardless of its milestones and resilience throughout the rough years, the industry - boasting a wealth of talented filmmakers and actors - failed to shine outside its borders. Chief editor of Yangon-based Popular Journal, Khing My, told this news agency that Burmese cinema cannot progress due to financial constraints and screening restrictions. "Myanmar's film market is not booming yet. The international community is not interested in Myanmar's film market. This is the reason why Myanmar films cannot penetrate the international market. "Successive governments have tried to push for subtitles to be shown internationally but have failed,' said Khing My. Meanwhile, Dr M Ferguson opined that contemporary Myanmar film-makers have tremendous creative talents in storytelling to define the country's social and political settings. "I still firmly believe that filmmakers are making films that are worth watching, and they should get more attention internationally. I mean, it's an ethical obligation of international audiences to take an interest in things beyond the places that are economically powerful,' said Dr M Ferguson. - Bernama
New York Post
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘I Dream of Jeannie' star Barbara Eden reveals she was ‘very upset' about this major storyline with Larry Hagman
Barbara Eden dreamt of a different ending for Jeannie. After starring as the 2,000-year-old spirit, who is freed from her bottle by NASA astronaut Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman) on 'I Dream of Jeannie,' the actress, 93, recently revealed one major qualm. Eden was not on board with the Season 5 decision to have Jeannie marry her 'master' Tony, especially since her character became so independent and empowering to housewives everywhere. Advertisement 11 Barbara Eden in 'I Dream of Jeannie.' Courtesy Everett Collection 11 Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden during 2nd Annual TV Land Awards. WireImage 'I was very upset about it,' she told Forbes in an interview published on Saturday, 'not that anybody would listen to me.' Advertisement When asked if she brought her concerns to any of the producers, Eden admitted she did not. 'No, I didn't. I guess if I had asserted myself, yes, I would have, but I didn't. I talked about it; I said, 'This is ridiculous. She can't marry you. It's ridiculous,' but it was okay. It was still funny. People could relate, one way or another,' she explained. 11 Jack Smith, Barbara Eden, and Larry Hagman in 'The Wedding' which aired December 2, 1969. Courtesy Everett Collection The sitcom's creator, Sidney Sheldon, meanwhile, agreed with Eden. Advertisement 'What finally killed us was the head of our network, in the fifth year, saying, 'You have to get them married,'' Sheldon told the Television Academy in 2018. 'I Dream of Jeannie' ran for five seasons from 1965 to 1970, with Jeannie and Tony's wedding airing on December 3, 1969. 11 Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden in the wedding episode. Courtesy Everett Collection In 2016, Eden explained the impact her character had on women. Advertisement 'She was a very independent creature. And very strong. In fact, I've had young women come up to me and say it empowered them,' the actress said on 'Oprah: Where Are They Now?' at the time. Earlier this year, Eden shared another shocking revelation about the beloved show. 11 A still from 'I Dream of Jeannie.' Courtesy Everett Collection While on Jennie Garth's 'I Choose Me' podcast, the 'Woman Hunter' alum said she loved wearing Jeannie's genie outfit, which consisted of pink and red pants, a bralette, a headpiece and a cropped jacket, and 'never' felt objectified. However, the star did confess that 'the first year of 'Jeannie,' I was pregnant.' She and her then-husband, Michael Ansara, 'had tried to have a baby for so long,' Eden recalled. 'Finally, I was pregnant. And I found out the same day that they told me that 'Jeannie' was going to go on the air.' 11 Larry Hagman as Anthony 'Tony' Nelson, Barbara Eden as Jeannie. NBCUniversal via Getty Images She called Sheldon and told him, 'I have to talk to you. I really have to talk to you in person.' Advertisement Eden recounted how she went to where he was having dinner, and despite her future on 'Jeannie' being up in the air, she was 'so happy.' 'I was happy about the show too, but more happy that I was pregnant,' Eden gushed. 'I sat down there with a big grin on my face and said, 'You know, I'm pregnant, and I can't do your show.'' 11 Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden in Season 4 of 'I Dream of Jeannie.' Courtesy Everett Collection She added, 'I couldn't keep the smile off my face.' Advertisement Eden explained she told Sheldon, 'I just had to let you know so you could recast it.' That wasn't what the television writer, who died at age 89 in 2007, had in mind, though. Sheldon told her to give it a couple of days so they could 'see if we can work this out.' 11 Barbara Eden as Jeannie. Getty Images The team ended up going forward with Eden and finding creative ways to hide her pregnancy. Advertisement 'I remember one time on the set, I came into work, and there was a bikini,' she reminisced. 'I looked at it, and I said, 'I can't wear that.'' The costume designer ended up telling Season 1 director Gene Nelson. 11 Barbara Eden best known for her starring role of 'Jeannie.' Getty Images 'And Gene, who happened to have been a very good friend of mine at the time, walked up to my dressing room and said, 'Barbara, you're never a diva. Why don't you put on the bathing suit?'' Advertisement 'I said, 'Gene, I am pregnant,'' Eden recalled to Garth. 'I put it on, and Gene came to the door, and he went, 'Uh-oh. Oh, I see what you mean. I see what you mean,'' she went on. So, 'they put a tire on my tummy.' 11 Barbara Eden in 2024. Getty Images for Marcel Remus Eden explained that they added towels on top of the tire to hide the object. The actress noted that 'I Dream of Jeannie' mostly used 'lots of material' in front of her to hide her baby bump. Eden gave birth to her son Matthew Ansara in August 1965. 11 Barbara Eden as Jeannie, Larry Hagman as Anthony 'Tony' Nelson. NBCUniversal via Getty Images He died in 2001 at the age of 35 due to an accidental drug overdose. 'When Matthew was clean and sober, he was such a beautiful human being, inside and out,' Eden told People in 2021. 'Drugs are inexplicable. It's so frustrating.'
CairoScene
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Egyptian Director Sameh Abdelaziz Dies at 48
Egyptian director Sameh Abdelaziz has died after being hospitalised due to a sudden health crisis caused by a viral blood infection. Jul 10, 2025 Egyptian director Sameh Abdelaziz has died after being hospitalised due to a sudden health crisis caused by a viral blood infection. The illness led to a sharp rise in his blood sugar levels, resulting in a rapid deterioration of his condition. His death was confirmed by actor Ehab Fahmy, who wrote in a statement on social media that the funeral would be held on Sunday afternoon at the Police Mosque in Sheikh Zayed, with burial to follow in the family cemetery in Suez. Abdelaziz graduated from Egypt's Higher Institute of Cinema in 1996 and began his career directing television programmes before moving into film. He made his cinematic debut in 2005 with Dars Khososy (Private Lesson), and went on to direct several well-known titles including El Farah (The Wedding), Cabaret, Asad w Arba' Qitat (A Lion and Four Cats), and Halawet Rouh (Sweetness of Spirit). His most recent work included the film El Dashash (2024–2025), starring Mohamed Saad, Zina, Bassem Samra, and Khaled El Sawy. Abdel Aziz had also been working on the Ramadan 2025 television series Shahadet Mo'amalat Atfal (Child Treatment Certificate).
Ammon
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ammon
Egyptian director Sameh Abdelaziz dies at 48
Ammon News - Egyptian director Sameh Abdelaziz has died after being hospitalised due to a sudden health crisis caused by a viral blood infection. His death was confirmed by actor Ehab Fahmy, who wrote in a statement on social media that the funeral would be held on Sunday afternoon at the Police Mosque in Sheikh Zayed, with burial to follow in the family cemetery in Suez. Abdelaziz graduated from Egypt's Higher Institute of Cinema in 1996 and began his career directing television programmes before moving into film. He made his cinematic debut in 2005 with Dars Khososy (Private Lesson), and went on to direct several well-known titles including El Farah (The Wedding), Cabaret, Asad w Arba' Qitat (A Lion and Four Cats), and Halawet Rouh (Sweetness of Spirit). His most recent work included the film El Dashash (2024–2025), starring Mohamed Saad, Zina, Bassem Samra, and Khaled El Sawy. Abdel Aziz had also been working on the Ramadan 2025 television series Shahadet Mo'amalat Atfal (Child Treatment Certificate).
CBC
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
3 novels for fans of rich family dramas like The White Lotus
There's something about a classic wealthy family drama that draws viewers in time and time again. Shows like HBO's The White Lotus and Apple TV's Succession have everything that columnist Alicia Cox Thomson loves to watch, from messy family dynamics to hidden inheritances and high-stakes. "It almost gives us license to judge, to be a little catty. People love gossip, it's a human compulsion, right? And so when the people that we're talking about have a little more than we do it just adds a little snark," said Thomson. Thomson is a Toronto writer and regular columnist on The Next Chapter. She set out to find and recommend novels that matched this theme of the ultra rich family thriller, but this time featuring families of colour. Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson "[Wilkerson] really masterfully weaves all of these things together and a story about identity and healing and family trauma as well," said Thomson. Raised in a wealthy New England neighbourhood as the daughter of one of the only Black families, Ebby Freeman knows what it's like to have the eyes of high society turned on her. Good Dirt tells the story of the Freemans: of the son they lost years ago to gun violence, and the stoneware jar kept in their family for generations and once owned by an enslaved ancestor. When Ebby is left at the altar years later, she runs off to France to avoid public scrutiny and ends up uncovering more of her family's past that may come to help build her future. Charmaine Wilkerson is a Jamaican American writer best known for her novel Black Cake which was adapted as a Hulu series. She previously worked as a journalist and is now based in Italy. The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhelecha "There's an underlying family tragedy that I won't spoil that is also informing these siblings and their parents, a tragedy they don't speak about, but it taints them all and they need to figure that out. There's a lot going on, but it's a very traditional kind of thriller," said Thomson. The Inheritance follows the Agarwals, an affluent family from New Delhi who reunite on a family trip to a Scottish island. Raj, the patriarch is a successful businessman and his wife Shalini are joined by their three grown children: Myra, Aseem and Aisha and some of their partners. Between the son and heir, golden daughter and wild child youngest daughter all three of the siblings have ulterior motives to this trip. When the stakes are higher than ever, family secrets are sure to boil to the surface. Trisha Sakhlecha is an Indian writer and diplomat based between Berlin and London. She is the current Director of the Tagore Centre at the Embassy of India. The Inheritance is her first novel. The Wedding by Gurjinder Basran "Their cultures aren't the driving force of the plots, they just really underpin and enrich these stories like I really love hearing about all the food and all of the rituals in the wedding," said Thomson. In a Bollywood-inspired family drama, The Wedding transports readers to Surrey and Vancouver, B.C. in the lead-up to the lavish Sikh wedding between Devi and Baby. Offering glimpses into the lives of the wedding party, guests and the event staff making it all happen, the novel is all about community, tradition and the union of two people.
