We Were Kings (Burma’s Lost Royals) – A Royal Mess of History
Picture this: it’s 1885, and the British army, in a fit of colonial enthusiasm, decides that the Burmese monarchy needs a little “overhaul.” Spoiler alert: they deposed the king, who probably wasn’t expecting his royal duties to include dodging cannonballs and tea-drinking invaders. This little mishap marked the end of a thousand years of monarchy, and let’s just say the royal family didn’t take it well. They vanished faster than a magician’s rabbit, leaving behind a country that was about to have a very tumultuous relationship with military dictatorship.
Fast forward a century of silence, war, and enough dictatorship to make even the most patient history buffs throw up their hands in despair. Enter the royal family, who, after a long game of hide and seek, are back on the scene. It’s like watching a family reunion where everyone’s awkwardly trying to remember who’s who, only instead of a barbecue, you have a country recovering from decades of oppression. The film chronicles their journey to reunite the family, past and present. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about finding the last slice of cake; it’s about reclaiming a lost legacy.
As we delve into the lives of the descendants, we witness their struggles, triumphs, and a lot of awkward family dynamics. Imagine trying to explain to your relatives that you’ve spent the last few decades not being a royal while they’ve been off trying to figure out how to survive in a dictatorship. Talk about a family therapy session waiting to happen! The film captures the seismic changes in Burma over three years, which is a nice way of saying that they had a lot of material to work with, including the occasional civil unrest and political upheaval. Just your average Tuesday in a post-colonial country.
We also get a glimpse of the royal family’s attempts to reconnect with their heritage. It’s like watching a very serious episode of “Who Do You Think You Are?” but with more historical drama and fewer celebrity guests. The contrast between the family’s royal past and the current state of affairs in Burma is as stark as a royal gown against a backdrop of military uniforms. You can practically hear the collective sighs of historians as they try to reconcile a thousand years of monarchy with the chaos of modern politics.
In the end, “We Were Kings” is not just about a family reclaiming its past; it’s about a country trying to emerge from the darkness of its history. The film wraps up with a sense of hope, which is refreshing, considering the preceding century felt like a never-ending episode of “Survivor: Dictatorship Edition.” So, if you’re in the mood for a documentary that’s part history lesson, part family saga, and all heart, grab your royal sceptre and dive in. Just be prepared for a lot of awkward family reunions, and remember: not every king gets to keep his crown.