Yangon Calling – Punk in Myanmar makes rebellion a worthwhile and thought provoking cause in this award winning documentary about the underground punk movement in Myanmar.

Views on punk music vary but at a time it was known for being anarchic, anti-establishment and hit a high in the early 70s UK and then came disco . Yet this documentary is anything but youthful rebellion – Mynanmar has been ruled by a military dictatorship for the past 50 years and the vast majority have to literally eek out an existence – €30 is the average wage.

The German documentary made by Alexander Dluzak and Carsten Piefke takes an unflinching look at life without submission, a little anarchy and a lot of problems. The documentary was filmed with hidden cameras because the risk of the punks or filmmakers was great with secret police everywhere. The Sex Pistols didn’t risk 5 years hard labour where death is a real possibility. These fearless punks are risking it all and using music as a medium to wake up a whole new generation to the possibility that they can and should demand the right to live in a country that is free.

Yangon Calling – Punk in Myanmar is definitely one to see at the Asia House Film Festival. By the end of it you are left hoping that Scum and the other 99 punks continue to try and elicit change and that their hope remains as loud and brash as their punk music.

The Asia House Film Festival 2015 is running from Friday 27 until Tuesday 31 March in venues across London.

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