We know Aung San Suu Kyi as “a golden bird in a cage “; she is a valuable icon representing freedom and democracy of which the suppressed population of Burma much hope for. In the West she stands out as a symbol of peace and reconciliation, she has been awarded countless prizes for her effort, among them the Nobel Peace Prize. But who is the person and woman behind it all? In this film her close family, friends and close colleagues tell about a daughter, a wife, a friend, a mother, a rebel - that early in life met deep grief and deprivation.

The Military Dictatorship has on several occasions offered her the opportunity to leave the country. But why does Aung San Suu Kyi voluntarily choose to stay in her captivity instead of going into exile?

Director's note: I has travelled around the world in an effort to perceive what this remarkable woman contains. I have read her books and poems, seen her in action when she addresses her people or explains her political views. I have interviewed people that have had a life in close connection to her; family members, dear friends and politically kindred souls. They have all contributed to reflecting the different sides of her with their own touching but mixed feelings. They uphold a strong admiration for her, but at the same time there is also grief over the deprivation and suffering for which the struggle for Burmese freedom has meant for her. Other people are directly critical towards her iconic status and political strategies.