Letter to San Zaw Htway

Artist and political activist San Zaw Htway experienced the full force of military repression in Myanmar back in 1999, when he was sentenced to 36 years in prison for involvement in the re-establishment of the banned student union. Twelve years later, under a more lenient regime, he was released.

In 2021, an aggressive military regime seized power again in a coup, brutally crushing mass protests. Friends, relatives, and other former political prisoners write letters to San, in whom they find comfort, understanding, and good advice. Despite everything, he never lost his spirit during his years of imprisonment.

The remarkable and sometimes shocking images of the recent demonstrations against the regime are interspersed with home videos of San. The deftly edited footage and letter excerpts tell a tragic story of an extraordinary person and a country torn apart.