"Beyond Rangoon" Movie Notes

U AUNG KO portrays U Aung Ko, a political dissident professor turned
Rangoon tour guide who helps free Laura Bowman from her psychological prison
and who, in turn, frees himself to start a new life. "Beyond Rangoon"
Movie Notes

Although "BEYOND RANGOON" is not his own personal story and is in no
way biographical (with the exception of a dramatized appearance of Nobel Peace
Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi), the torment of Burma is something the Burmese-
born actor knows and understands well.

Currently living in Paris, France, where he regularly works as a language
teacher and translator, U Aung Ko was busy with chores on a French film
documentary about Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi. Alan Clements, the company's
advisor on Burma, suggested him to Boorman who tested Aung Ko for a leading
role in the film.

While growing up as a university student in Rangoon during the early ' 60s, U
Aung Ko's membership in the then powerful Burma Socialist Program Party, BSPP,
(Not Burmese Communist Party) and his part-time work with the French Embassy
led to several years of Party-sponsored study abroad, specifically at the Sorbonne in
Paris. He returned to Burma and worked as a school teacher, but with a French wife
and his increasing dissatisfaction with Burmese politics, he left again for Paris in
1975.

Although U Aung Ko has never acted before, it is obvious that he identifies
very strongly with the suffering and pain of his on-screen character. U Aung Ko
continues to counsel Burmese students living in Europe and is very involved with
aspects of the pro-democracy movement for Burma. His vigorous and convincing
performance in "BEYOND RANGOON" comes from a heartfelt belief that in some
small way the film will promote change and will someday allow him to return
home to Burma.