A tender and brave film, Na Gyi’s What Happened to the Wolf? takes its time moving through its story, enveloping its audience into the profound fears and realisation of our leads, becoming a film well worth your time.
Myint Myat (Eaindra Kyaw Zin) grew up in strict traditions. Way Way (Paing Phyo Thu) is rebellious and free-spirited, born with a defective heart, shutting everyone off around her so that she can die anonymously. They meet at the hospital when Myint Myat is diagnosed with Neuro Sarcoma. Although outwardly calm, Myint Myat is scared of impending death, finding solace in carefree Way Way. This odd pair is drawn to each other.
While talking about a film solely on its merits in film criticism, it would be horribly remiss for me not to give context to What Happened to the Wolf? We in the West may see this as a standard drama that reveals its emotional payoff in the final scenes. But, and this is an important but, for a film set and made in Myanmar, those final scenes are rife with importance and bravery. Myanmar is a country where LGBTQ+ people face persecution every day. So, for a film to show this, even for a few moments, is extraordinarily bold and integral to giving a voice to those that need it.
This is the slowest of slow-burn love stories and one that pays off in the most wonderfully affecting ways possible. What Happened to the Wolf? is a film that earns its final scene due to the careful writing and direction from Na Gyi, with the powerful performances of our terminally ill duo Paing Phyo Thu and Eaindra Kyaw Zin. Na Gyi puts a focus on the fears and anxieties of dying at a young age that hits you just in the right places.
At times, What Happened to the Wolf? is very understated and muted, which causes a bit of predictability to proceedings. With that said, it still evokes feelings from you, which proves that although something is conventional in its approach, as long as it is done well, it will still be a great watch. Na Gyi splashes little pieces of beauty here and there in the duo’s journey, even as death comes ever closer to them.
Na Gyi also takes on cinematographer duties here, and he gives us lots of space for our characters to explore, often making them appear small in their place in the world due to their ailing health. However, a light airiness remains throughout; he wants to give his actors the space they deserve to pull off the emotional weight of their characters while still keeping everything in the frame distant but attractive.
What Happened to the Wolf? Does run afoul of being a touch too long for its own good, but in truth, you forgive it, lengthening out the story as we become so invested as to where these two characters eventually end up. It is with the two performances of Paing Phyo Thu and Eaindra Kyaw Zin that the film truly shines brightest. You are continually in pain for their characters as they reveal more and more of their past to one another. You know their future is bleak; there is only one way their companionship is going, which devastates you.
Queer East Festival 2023 nationwide tour takes place October to December in Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Belfast, Edinburgh, Leeds and more cities to be announced. More information at: https://queereast.org.uk/
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