The Sari Soldiers closes this year’s Human Rights Watch Film Festival program, with a special screening on Tuesday, March 5th, 8 PM at Jackman Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario, with director Julie Bridgham in attendance.
Filmed over three years during the most historic and pivotal time in Nepal’s modern history, The Sari Soldiers is an extraordinary story of six women’s courageous efforts to shape Nepal’s future in the midst of an escalating civil war against Maoist insurgents, and the King’s crackdown on civil liberties.
When Devi, mother of a 15-year-old girl, witnesses her niece being tortured and murdered by the Royal Nepal Army, she speaks publicly about the atrocity. The army abducts her daughter in retaliation, and Devi embarks on a three-year struggle to uncover her daughter’s fate and see justice done. The Sari Soldiers follows her and five other brave women, including Maoist Commander Kranti; Royal Nepal Army Officer Rajani; Krishna, a monarchist from a rural community who leads a rebellion against the Maoists; Mandira, a human rights lawyer; and Ram Kumari, a young student activist shaping the protests to reclaim democracy.
Screening of The Sari Soldiers is preceded by a 6 PM reception at The Moose Factory Gallery, 22 Grange Avenue. For tickets to the screening and reception, please call (416) 322-8448 or e-mail marijke.anbeek@hrw.org.
Tickets to the screening alone are available at the door or by calling Cinematheque Ontario at 416-968-3456 or toll-free 1-877-968-3456.
