The Lady: My first film premiere

 

Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh

THE limousine swept in. A star stepped out. It was none other than Malaysia’s international film-star: Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh!  

The Star stepped out from her limousine

 On a cool Saturday evening on 8^th October 2011, I was a among the buzzing crowd waiting for the celebrated star, at the Smith Rafael Film Centre in San Rafael, California. I was invited as a guest to attend the screening of The Lady, Michelle Yeoh’s most recent film.  The Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) organized the event.

Smith Rafael Film Centre, San Rafael

 

Smith Rafael Film Centre, San Rafael

 

The crowd of Americans was made up of men and women of all ages. Many were dressed in casual long-sleeved shirts and pants with muffler in hand because of the cold, but some ladies were in pretty glittery dresses. They were talking enthusiastically outside the theatre, but when word got round that the star was approaching, the patiently waiting audience formed an orderly line on both sides of the red carpet, to welcome the star.   

The patiently-waiting audience formed an orderly line

Dressed in a shimmering black shift and a grey overcoat, Michelle Yeoh was a picture of elegance. The Malaysian celebrity was joined by The Lady’s dashing and dapper director, Luc Besson. Cameras flashed all around me and fans surged forward. I tried, in vain, to get a good picture of the pair as they greeted fans, signed autographs and obligingly posed for photographers.

Michelle Yeoh posing for photographs

Luc Besson greeting fans

Michelle Yeoh signing autographs

As this was my first film premiere, I was quivering with excitement. What a delightful experience to cherish! There I was, and standing right in front of me was a superstar and her director. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming!

Soon after, I was led to the VIP waiting room with the renowned actress and her director. After some snacks and drinks with the stars, I managed to get some personal shots of Michelle Yeoh, before we were ushered into the theatre to view the movie. 

 

At the VIP waiting room: the stars mingle with the guests

A personal shot with Michelle Yeoh

Guests with a memorable photo with Michelle Yeoh

The Lady, an insightful epic love story, is set against Burma’s (now Myanmar’s) political upheaval. It is about the lives of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi (portrayed exquisitely by Michelle Yeoh) and her husband, British academic Michael Aris (competently played by actor, David Thewlis).

The whole hall was packed to full capacity. The well-behaved audience watched in silence, but at certain poignant moments, I heard sobs and sniffs. As a mother of two sons, I could relate to the character and at the scene where the heroine collapsed on the floor on receiving news of her husband’s illness, I was dabbing my eyes too.

After the movie, the audience stood up to give a standing ovation. As Michelle Yeoh and Luc Besson went up on stage, the applause became more thunderous. An absorbing interview and a Question and Answer (Q&A) session ensued.

Question and Answer session on stage

During the interview, Michelle Yeoh responded to questions candidly and confidently, in flawless English. She said that when she first read the script by British writer, Rebecca Frayn, she was inspired by Aung San Suu Kyi. “Her struggle for independence for the oppressed people of Burma won my admiration and respect. I felt that her story must be told,” she revealed. “I feel like it was made for me. This is the role of a lifetime!” 

Although the movie was filmed in Thailand, the amazingly creative Luc Besson said that he tried to make it as historically accurate as possible. “We recreated the house Aung San Suu Kyi occupied by visiting her and then googled  the details. Aung San Suu Kyi’s son’s speech when accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, on her behalf, was reproduced on film, word for word!” disclosed Luc Besson.

 

Luc Besson and Michelle Yeoh at the lively question-answer session

During the Q & A, there were many questions on Burma as well as on the actress and director. The audience heaped praise on the movie, showing their admiration and appreciation. 

  

Next, most of us adjourned to Frantoio Ristorante for dinner. What a privilege it was to dine with the stars of The Lady and at the same table too. Over dinner, I had a little chat with Michelle Yeoh, the former James Bond girl.

 

Dining with Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh is a humble and down-to-earth lady. She is open-minded, warm and friendly, without any airs, in spite of her celebrity status. She spoke about her busy schedule (with a Malaysian accent) and how she missed Ipoh, her hometown, and her family. She tries to go home whenever she can.

Her favourite food? “Malaysian, of course. Whenever I’m back, I will definitely go for curry laksa, cendol, bak kut teh, chicken rice and hakka mee.” A true-blue Malaysian at heart!

 

How does Michelle Yeoh keep her slim and slender figure? “It’s exercise,” she disclosed. “I eat moderately but exercise frequently.” She dances and does aerobic exercises whenever she can. As I savoured generous portions of the delicious French-American cuisine, I noticed that our celebrated actress ate sparingly - like a lady - delicately choosing little morsels of food and chewing well with each mouthful.

 

Michelle Yeoh loved all the movies that she starred in, just like a mother would love all her children, equally. But she found her latest film - playing a living icon - The Lady, most challenging. Her eyes lit up and she talked ardently about her latest movie.

 “The journey to making the movie took more than four years,” she elaborated. “I did a lot of research on Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma and the Burmese people. I also spent long hours learning Burmese, and sometimes dream in Burmese too,” she laughingly told me. She even lost 5 kg for the role!

This former Miss Malaysia (1983) described Aung San Suu Kyi as a lady with great dignity and elegance. She felt a sense of responsibility in portraying the correct version of the freedom fighter. Besides speaking like her and mimicking her mannerisms, she wanted to show her as a woman with strong convictions. That was why she found the role so challenging.

Michelle Yeoh is very inspired by the love between Aung San Suu Kyi and her husband. “It shows that when you love someone, you can enable them to be a better person. You support each other and do not try to change him or her. You let them be who they truly are.”

Michelle Yeoh believes in human rights. She hopes that The Lady will create awareness of the struggles of Aung San Suu Kyi and her people. Initially, this movie is shown in film festivals in different parts of the world. Later, when it is shown in theatres all over the world, the plight of the Burmese people will be highlighted. Hopefully it will also put Malaysia on the world stage, as the main actress is from Malaysia.

Make sure you watch this movie. See how our lady extraordinaire fight her battles, not with swords as in many of her films, but by peaceful means.                   

                            

The movie: The Lady