Don't Fence Me In: Major Mary and the Karen Refugees from Burma

The unforgettable heroine of Ruth Gumnit's sincere, touching documentary about Karen refugees from Burma--who struggle to survive in camps on the Thai border while Burmese authorities wage a continuing campaign to eradicate their minority community and their culture--is named Mary On, and she's a major in the Karen Liberation Army, camp superintendent, and maternal figure to all. A septuagenarian dynamo, Mary offers, in halting but rather charming English, a brief summary of recent Karen history and her own experiences as a victim of the Burmese military to complement the film Gumnit shot--without official authorization--in the war zone (as well as additional footage). Interspersed are excerpts from interviews with camp residents, all of whom express their admiration for Major Mary and their pain at the loss of their ancestral homeland. One could quibble with the organization of Don't Fence Me In (the title comes from a tune that Mary sings in one of the film's more lighthearted moments), which doesn't always flow smoothly, but the occasional rough edges are to be expected given the difficult circumstances under which the film was made. Overall, this is an affecting documentary that bears witness to the suffering and courage of the Karen people and acts as an effective plea for international recognition of their plight. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)