Filmmakers Capture Myanmar Recruits Preparing for Battle
A new documentary focuses on the daily lives of young soldiers in the People’s Defense Force rather than the combat itself.
By David Marshall ·
Canadian photojournalist Bryan Dickie first entered Myanmar in 2021, ten months after the military ousted the elected government. That initial trip led to a partnership with directors Robert Mentov and Dwight Jantzi. The three returned to the country two years later to film the training of young recruits in the People’s Defense Force. Their six-week project, titled White Tiger Column, opens the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam this year.
The filmmakers spent 45 days recording the routines of trainees and commanders as they prepared to join the front lines. They used an observational style to contrast the casual habits of the young soldiers, such as watching TikTok and listening to Taylor Swift, with the harsh reality of armed conflict. Dickie noted that his 15 years covering the region and his ties to the Burmese diaspora in Canada helped him access these areas.
Jantzi described the collaboration as a natural fit, citing the shared work ethic of the team. The group developed their shot lists day by day while on the ground. The political situation in Myanmar changed rapidly, which limited the time the crew could spend in the country. Jantzi explained that they kept trying to extend their stay, but regional tensions made it difficult to plan characters months in advance.
Mentov said the team worked closely with local filmmakers and the diaspora to maintain a respectful approach. He compared their experience to that of the recruits, noting that both groups were dropped into the jungle to understand the environment. The film avoids traditional talking heads and voice-overs. Instead, it uses locked-off tripod shots and longer lenses to let the camera linger on mundane activities.
The directors made a conscious decision to minimize explicit violence. Dickie stated they wanted to make a war film that did not show war. He explained that outsiders often find Myanmar’s complex history hard to grasp. The film therefore focuses on universal themes like sovereignty and freedom rather than detailed historical explanations.
The documentary arrives as young people play larger roles in political movements globally. It opens weeks after Brazil re-elected Lula following student-led demonstrations and after Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić was overthrown in snap elections. Young voters also recorded the second-highest midterm turnout in 30 years in the United States. Dickie noted that revolution is on the lips of many people.
Jantzi hopes the film serves as a portrait of what revolution could look like worldwide. He questioned whether people would have the courage to fight if democracy fell. Dickie added that the Myanmar revolution is a pure grassroots effort but remains a war. He said he speaks to the recruits weekly and noted that they are still fighting in the jungle and being bombed. The film is produced by Tom Edgerton for Lightwood Green, Nocte Films, and Rugio.
