
The Lady
2011, Biography/Drama, 2h 7m
72 Reviews 5,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Even as The Lady focuses on Aung San Suu Kyi's romantic life parallel to her political ascendancy, Luc Besson's saccharine direction is too concerned with deifying the Nobel Prize-winner for her humanity to actually shine through. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Aung San Suu Kyi
Michael Aris
Kim Aris
Alexander Aris
Lucinda Philips
Karma Phuntsho
News & Interviews for The Lady
Critic Reviews for The Lady
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (46)
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Screenwriter Rebecca Frayn's full feature debut is alluring, fascinating to watch and, most importantly, makes you care about Suu Kyi.
September 8, 2017 | Full Review… -
The Lady is a slog, a two-and-a-half hour, painted-on-wood exercise in political iconography.
April 27, 2012 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review… -
"The Lady" is a two-hour trip into earnestness, from which audiences will want a little liberation of their own.
April 27, 2012 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review… -
The Lady is little more than a history lesson - although a beautifully presented one - wrapped in the pink gloss of a G-rated potboiler evidenced in Suu Kyi's and Michael's storybook romance.
April 26, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review… -
A heavy-handed attempt to sanctify one of the most dignified and uncompromising politicians and human rights champions of recent times.
April 20, 2012 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review… -
[It] does indeed deal with a real life, but follows so faithfully the traditional shape of film biography that it feels less convincing.
April 19, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Lady
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Sep 21, 2017Although directed by hotshot cowboy Luc Besson this biographic about one of the leaders that took Burma to democracy nonetheless feels like many other bio-pics wherein the go-to points are gone to, and without a great deal of flair. If it's a history lesson one seeks, you could do worst, and immersion in the life another culture is always a good thing. The leads do admirably (always a fan of Yeoh, which is why I showed up, and she could use helming other work) but, as I said, the story only follows an overview of the lives involved, like a great many other biographies.Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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Mar 12, 2014On the one hand, "The Lady" is a heartfelt biopic about Burmese democracy activist and Nobel Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi(Michelle Yeoh). As such, the movie is framed by three deaths: It is 1947, and her father, Aung San(Phoe Zaw), one of the founding fathers of Burma, is gunned down in cold blood by army soldiers. It is 1998 and her husband, Michael Aris(David Thewlis), an Oxford professor, has just been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. He now has between five months and five years to live which as pointed out, should be enough time to settle his affairs. Except that she is stuck in Burma and if she leaves, she will not be able to return. It is 1988 and her mother(Marian Yu) has just had a serious stroke in Burma. That causes Aung San Suu Kyi to return to her native country from England, with her family not far behind her, just as democracy protests are kicking into high gear. On the other hand, while I respect the well-intentioned thoughts of "The Lady," crafting it as a romance and giving equal time to her husband do it little favor, making Aung San Suu Kyi almost a supporting player in her own story.(Therefore, David Thewlis' excellent performance ironically hurts the movie more than it helps.) Not to paraphrase "Man of Steel" anymore than I absolutely have to, but the far reaching and lasting peaceful movement for democracy in Burma is larger than all of these people. For the record, I don't mean to take anything away from the personal struggles of the dedicated Aung San Suu Kyi when I say that. But if one wanted to really give a sense of her isolation under house arrest, then a one woman show would have definitely been the way to go, assuming one cast the right actress.Walter M Super Reviewer
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Sep 23, 2013Focussing on the love story more than the politics was a bad idea.Marcus W Super Reviewer
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Feb 19, 2013Really good biodrama. Before viewing this film, I had little understanding of her background, and even less understanding of the history of Burma over the past fifty years. Really well done. Not the fastest pace ever, but still a very interesting story about a remarkable lady...Cynthia S Super Reviewer
The Lady Quotes
General Ne Win: | When her father was killed, he became a great martyr. We can't risk her becoming one too. |
Soldier/Bad News: | I wear the red scarf and I have the right to kill you. |
Aung San Suu Kyi: | The art of people is a true mirror of their mind. |
Michael Aris: | Hope, how we all cling to hope. |
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