Beyond Rangoon (1995)

Laura is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after the murder of her husband and son, and goes on vacation with her sister to Burma. After losing her passport at a political rally, she... See full summary »

Director:

John Boorman

Writers:

Alex Lasker, Bill Rubenstein

Stars:

Patricia Arquette, U Aung Ko, Frances McDormand

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patricia Arquette	...	Laura Bowman
U Aung Ko	...	U Aung Ko
Frances McDormand	...	Andy Bowman
Spalding Gray	...	Jeremy Watt
Tiara Jacquelina	...	San San - Hotel Desk Clerk
Kuswadinata	...	Colonel at Hotel (as Kuswadinath Bujang)
Victor Slezak	...	Mr. Scott
Jit Murad	...	Sein Htoo
Ye Myint	...	Zaw Win
Cho Cho Myint	...	Zabai
Johnny Cheah	...	Min Han
Haji Mohd Rajoli	...	Karen Father
Azmi Hassan	...	Older Karen Boy
Ahmad Fithi	...	Younger Karen Boy
Adelle Lutz	...	Aung San Suu Kyi

Storyline

Laura is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after the murder of her husband and son, and goes on vacation with her sister to Burma. After losing her passport at a political rally, she is left on her own for a few days, during which time she falls in with students fighting for democracy. She and their leader, U Aung Ko, travel through Burma, whilst witnessing many bloody acts of repression by the dictatorship, in an attempt to escape to Thailand. Based on a true story.

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Plot Keywords:

burma | escape | dictatorship | doctor | travel | 

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Taglines:

Truth has a witness

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for depiction of violent political oppression

Did You Know?

Trivia

Spalding Gray had previously been in another film about a South East Asian conflict: "The Killing Fields" (1984), which documented the genocide from the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

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Goofs

When Patricia Arquette arrives at the railroad station, a train is standing on the track nearest the platform. When she runs to get on the train, it is just pulling in to the station.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Laura Bowman: The trip was Andy's idea. It was easier to say yes than argue. Always that way with my sister. She meant well. Touch of the exotic east would get me away from all the things that reminded me of what happened. But it didn't. Where ever I looked, I saw only the moment when my life ended.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Desperado/Dangerous Minds/Mortal Kombat/Beyond Rangoon/Lord of Illusions/The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)

User Reviews

Very ordinary

"Beyond Rangoon" is mostly a petite, robust Arquette running barefoot all over Burma from the military junta bad guys while trying desperately to help a wounded super good guy professor. The film mechanically tells its by-the-numbers story about a recently widowed American physician on vacation who gets stuck in the traveler's favorite vacation spot, Burma (yeah, right!), in the midst of a clash between restless citizens and the ruling military junta. The result is very ordinary stuff for Arquette fans, people with an interest in the Burma, and couch potatoes who dig flicks with strong women heros. (C)

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beyond Rangoon

Filming Locations:

Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,007,527, 27 August 1995

Gross USA:

$5,750,110

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,750,110

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 93 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1