Gemini, The

By: Amos Lassen

THE GEMINI"
The First LGBT Burmese (Myanmar) Film
Amos Lassen

"The Gemini" is a 2016 Burmese drama film directed by Nyo Min Lwin that follows a love story between two men who had faced difficulties in their life after one had been into an arranged marriage. The film was the first LGBT film in cinema of Myanmar and openly went against Burmese homosexuality laws. It is also the first Burmese film shown in Hollywood.
The film opens as two men swing their legs into view and then goes into a discussion between Thit Wai (Okkar Min Muang) and his wife, Honey Pyo (Aye Myat Thu). Later, Honey Pyo is shattered when she learns that her husband's plane has crashed.
Nay Thit (Nyei Chan Kyaw) goes to the young widow at the funeral claiming to be her husband's college friend. Through flashbacks the romantic relationship between Thit Wai and Nay Thit is revealed and when Honey Pyo suspects her late husband had been with Nay Thit, she decides to investigate.
The drama introduces a plot twist and thriller elements that are so complicated that what could have been a more successful, progressive often becomes hard to follow. Directed by Nyo Min Lwin, "The Gemini" is, however, an excellent look at a simple story of forbidden love. I wanted this to be a better film than it is, especially because the story is told with such fine emotion. It remains a milestone film for Myanmar and if for no other reason, it is worth seeing.