ratiocinator I was unfamiliar with the story of Aung San Suu Kyi prior to watching this movie. Now that I've watched it, this is still the case.Unfortunately I have to provide another eight lines of text for this review to be published, but what more is there to say? Why Aung San Suu Kyi and her party did not take power following the election success was not explained at all, neither was her initial rise to prominence or any other major point. I was constantly having to fill these 'holes' in my head; I had to guess at what was happening. Wikipedia does a better job of explaining it! The situation and relevant history of Burma was completely ignored giving no starting point to refer to at all.The producers were clearly unable to fit Aung San Suu Kyi's story into a movie-length episode. They shouldn't have even bothered trying because they made a real hash of it.

LeonLouisRicci Sometimes a Filmmaker can't Win. Director Luc Besson chose to make this Hagiography of the Gentle, Determined, Steel-Willed Woman (Michelle Yeah in a great performance) from Burma as a Love Story. That is Love of Country and Family Equally with the Emphasis, although Hardly Limited to, Her Family Relationship that Suffered in Tandem with Burma's Repression.Most Critics Panned this Film or gave it Mediocre Reviews at Best Calling it Boring, Dull, and Lacking, But in the Mind's Eye You can See the same Critics Attacking the Director, who is known for Hard Edged Action Thrillers, if He chose to Amp Up the Tyrannical Regime's Brutality with Squibs and Bloody SFX.In this Movie the History of the Her Country's Struggle is not Glossed Over or Ignored in Any Way it is just Paralleled with the Personal Sacrifices and Internal Pain of this Symbolic Leader of the People as She Lead the Way with Non-Violence and to this Day is Credited with any Changes for the Better that Burma has Undergone.This may be an Odd thing to Say, but Credit must be Given to Sylvester Stallone and His Recent Movie Rambo (2008) that used Ultra-Violence to Enlightened the World and Shine a Very Bloody Spotlight on Burma and its Situation. That Movie would make an Excellent Double Feature with this one that Would Combine Two Opposing Styles and may Result in a Very Interesting Duality with the Audience in Attendance.

Argemaluco As a producer, Luc Besson has been comfortably established in the action cinema for many years. However, as a director, we have been seeing him since 2005 working in such diverse genres as the romantic comedy (Angel-A), the fantasy (Les Aventures Extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec) and the digital animation (the Arthur and the Minimoys saga)...with quite poor results. In his most recent film as a director, The Lady, Besson goes back to the historical biopic genre (which he had already explored in the excellent The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc) in order to focus his attention on another brave woman who contributed to the liberation of a Nation. The result is mediocre, but moderately interesting in general.The events portrayed in The Lady are fascinating, but they aren't easily adapted to the classical dramatic structures of cinema, and that makes the film a bit fragmented and occasionally dull. At the same time the films examines Aung San Suu Kyi as a reluctant political figure, we also have glimpses to the democratic movement in Burma (also known as Myanmar); to the domestic policy of the Nobel Prize Committee; to Michael Aris' complicated family life, raising two teenage sons during the mother's (Suu Kyi) absence; and to the corrupt military leaders from Burma, deciding the life or death of political prisoners through chance and superstition. Sure, all those divergent aspects are necessary in order to comprehend Suu Kyi's democratic crusade; and I also appreciate the fact that screenwriter Rebecca Frayn didn't simplify the story in order to make the film more commercial; but I also feel that there should have been a better defined dramatic arc, which integrated those divergent elements into a faithful and dramatically solid whole.Another problem I found in The Lady is that its story doesn't end, because Suu Kyi's work in Burma hasn't finished either, and as a consequence, the ending doesn't reach the dramatic climax I had been waiting for. In any case, we were handed that climax in little increments through the film. Nevertheless, despite being mediocre, The Lady managed to keep me moderately interested (with the exception of a few dull moments), and I think that that fact, along with the brilliant cinematography and the solid performances from Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis, are enough to make it worthy of a slight recommendation.

David O'Mahony Whilst the film-making was not the best ever, it was MORE than good enough to convey to the viewer the awe-inspiring bravery, decency and humanity of Aung San Suu Kyi, her family and many supporters who suffered so much - including death.It was a heavy, profound watch.... if you don't tear-up at at least a couple of points on this one, you are made of steel!I disagree with another reviewer that the portrayal of the evil military mis-ruler was overdone and bordering on ridicule. I live in S.E. Asia, and i have observed those in uniforms and in possession of power, believe me it was spot-on. And lets face it, they were absolutely evil. The parallels with Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi" are definitely apparent, and the biggest surprise is how good Michelle Yeo is in the role! Enjoy.