The Argus: Brighton Festival Thumb“Those that are not afraid to die, come to the front”, a student shouted as the Burmese military closed in on a group of protestors.

As uplifting music played, this was the moment in a film when good should triumph over evil.

But what was frightening is that these images have not been created in a studio and what happens in real life is very different to the movies.

The scenes really were filmed in the summer of 2007, when the people of Burma, led by the monks, took part in an uprising against the oppressive regime which rules the country.

Using simple pocket-sized video cameras, a group of incredibly brave Burmese reporters from the Democratic Voice of Burma faced death in order to show the rest of the world what was going on.

Their films were smuggled out of the country and shown around the world, exposing the violent tactics of the Burmese government.

Directed by filmmaker Anders Ostergaard Burma VJ is frightening to watch. It refuses to shield the audience from anything; horrific images included the peaceful monks battered by soldiers and a Japanese journalist shot at point blank range.

This heartbreaking film showed the strength and courage of a group of people who are determined to change their country and made the audience realise how lucky we are – super injunctions aside – to have the freedom of the press.