Local Short ‘The Glass Man’ Honored at US Film Festival

By Aung Thet Htwe 27 April 2015

RANGOON — A Burmese documentary about a young disabled man in Burma has been recognized as a Best Short Honorable Mention at the Asians on Film Festival, held in Los Angeles from April 23-29.

“The Glass Man” tells the story of 20-year-old Kaung Htet, a man suffering from severe osteoporosis, a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and prone to fractures. When viewers meet Kaung Htet, he stands at just three feet and nine inches tall, and he has broken bones about 40 times (his frailty the inspiration for the documentary’s title) since birth.

As a child, Kaung Htet often shied away from the public and suffered from depression due to his condition. “The Glass Man” tells the story of his transformation into a confident and caring advocate for people with disabilities after being sent to the School for Disabled Children in Rangoon, Burma’s business hub and former capital.

Kaung Htet today volunteers as a teacher at the alma mater that changed his life, providing physical and mental support to others with disabilities. He is also involved in various activities advocating for the rights of the disabled.

“Kaung Htet is a strong, unrelenting person,” said Wera Aung, the film’s director.

The documentary was made in 2013 and has screened in several countries including Japan, where it also received an award for best documentary.