The Sari Soldiers

Six heroes in Nepal resist the King's oppression and fight for the future of their country.

Julie Bridgham / USA-Nepal / 2008 / 90 min

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: 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. The Sari Soldiers delves into the extraordinary journey of these women on opposing sides of the conflict and the democratic revolution reshaping their country’s future.

Trailer

Awards & Festivals

Human Rights Watch Film Festival, NY, Nestor Almendros Prize
WATCH DOCS Human Rights in Film Int’l Film Festival, Feature Length Competition Special Mention
Rencontres International Film Festival, Camera as Activist Award, Best Socio-Political Film
Tri-Continental Film Festival, India, Grand Jury Prize
Brooklyn International Film Festival, Spirit Award
One World Film Festival, Prague, Special Jury Mention

* Rubin Museum of Art
* Human Rights Watch Film Festival, London
* Human Rights Watch Film Festival, Buenos Aires
* Human Rights Watch Int'l Traveling Film Festival
* International Documentary Association, DocuWeeks
* DOC NZ International Film Festival, New Zealand
* Seattle Human Rights Film Festival
* Boston International Film Festival
* Boulder International Film Festival
* Brooklyn International Film Festival
* Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival
* Pravo Ljudski Human Rights Film Festival, Sarajevo
* Sarasota Film Festival
* India International Women’s Film Festival
* Festival International du Film des Droits de l'Homme, Paris
* The Female Eye Film Festival, Toronto
* International Women's Day
* Kathmandu Mountain Film Festival
* Walker Art Center, MN
* The Himalayan Film Festival, Amsterdam
* Seattle, Film, Faith and Justice Festival

Film site & Reviews

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