The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law welcomed film director Julie Bridgham for the Texas state premier of her documentary based in Nepal, The Sari Soldiers. A panel discussion with Ms. Bridgham and University of Texas Anthropology professor Dr. Kaushik Ghosh followed the screening and addressed issues raised in the film. Dr. Alan Kuperman, Strauss Center Senior Fellow and coordinator of the International Security Film Series, moderated the panel.
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. This film encompasses the diversity of the six women and provides a mixed perspective of the revolution.
Following the documentary, the audience praised the efforts of Ms.Bridgham in making a documentary that provided unbiased insight towards the revolution in Nepal. The conflicting perspectives among Nepali soldiers, Maoist revolutionaries, political activists and human rights advocates offered thorough insight into the lives of those fighting in the struggle for what they believed was a just cause.
The questions directed towards the panel ranged from inquiries about progress in Nepal since 2005 and any possible oversights that were not foreseeable in trying to construct a new constitution. Ms. Bridgham acknowledged that while the people of Nepal still have a long way to go in satisfying the democratic parties, Maoists and monarchists, a lot of progress has occurred in a short time span.
Ms. Bridgham also talked about the 6 inspirational women featured in her documentary, how she met them and what motivated her to share their stories with the world. She described the individual struggles and how each woman maintained her courage to fight, even through torturous times. After meeting each other for the first time at a private screening set up by Ms. Bridgham, the 6 women developed an acceptance for each other as they received the opportunity to walk in the shoes of each other. They immediately signed off to share this film with the public in light of each woman feeling their story was accurately and appropriately portrayed.
The panel also fielded questions about Nepal, the women featured in the film and the people fighting in the struggle to find justice in midst of a controversial revolution.