The first look at maverick French filmmaker Luc Besson’s new film, The Lady, comes not from a studio or distributor, but from  news agency, CNN. This makes more sense when one realizes that The Lady is about the struggle for democracy in Burma and the life of one of its leaders, Aung San Suu Kyi and the academic and writer Michael Aris, her British husband; a love story set against political turmoil.

The official synopsis: THE LADY is an epic love story about how an extraordinary couple and family sacrifice their happiness at great human cost for a higher cause. This is the story of Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh) and her husband, Michael Aris (David Thewlis). Despite distance, long separations, and a dangerously hostile regime, their love endures until the very end. A story of devotion and human understanding set against a background of political turmoil which continues today. THE LADY also is the story of the peaceful quest of the woman who is at the core of Burma’s democracy movement.

Luc Besson was at the vanguard of the French new wave back in the 80′s, and was responsible for films like Out of the Blue, La Femme Nikita, Leon (or as we probably know it, The Professional. We have Besson to thank for bringing Jean Reno to our attention. I defy you to name a bad Reno performance even if the movie was crap), The Fifth Element and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (the last two starring his baby-mama Milla Jovavich) as well as the screenplay for the film that turned Liam Neeson into an action hero, Taken.

The clip below features an interview with Besson as he discusses Aung san Suu Kyi, the making of the film and Michelle Yeoh’s performance. I’ll let him explain it:

The Lady will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The only other release date currently announced is Germany in March 2012. I’m sure that this is another film for which TIFF will earn it the attention it deserves and dates will be secured.