Thakin Aung Khent & Mixrice & Mixrice

2003

Mixrice Special

Thankin Aung Khent | 2002 | DV 6mm | Color | 12min

SYNOPSIS

In the Morning of 15th of August, the day of Korean liberation from Japanese occupation. Thakin Aung Khent, a migrant worker from Myanmar living in Korea, happens to watch a documentary film about the Korean liberation on TV. And he improvises a story about the reality of his home country in which people cannot watch and talk about their own history of liberation from colonial power. After that impromptu report he goes to Tapgol memorial park of liberation. Tapgol park at Jongro in Seoul. In a subway train to the park, Aung Khent is making mistakes during unprepared reporting. And he does it again alone at the park. Thakin Aung Khent's reports, which take place at various places, are basically improvised and straightforward. He is always talking about his aspiration for democracy in his homeland and criticizing the oppressive military regime in Myanmar. He approaches to a man selling national flags, and asks what he thinks about Myanmar in the past and present comparing to south Korea. Thakin Aung Khent's picture taken from a gathering is thrown away. Massive gatherings of migrant workers in Korea, initiated by the government‘s announcement about expulsion of foreign workers working illegally, went on last summer and autumn. Mixrice made a leaflet using the pictures of Thakin Aung Khent and another migrant worker. Thakin Aung Khent talks about his story of coming to Korea and having got hurt with the leaflet. Jongro and the gathering of migrant workers The gatherings of migrant workers last year were usually made at Jongro street. Jongro is also described in the lyrics of the song which Thakin Aung Khent first learned in Korea. Jongro is an old main street of Seoul. Thakin Aung Khent makes another hurtful report comparing the realities of Myanmar and Korea in front of the gathering.

DIRECTOR

Thankin Aung Khent

STAFF