But the Memories Remain…….

FROM ISSUE # 161 (May 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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In 2007, a pictorial book on the decade long conflict titled A People War was released. The book was followed by a photo exhibition showcasing the photos featured in the pictorial, which traveled through various cities and towns. As a follow up to the book and exhibition, a documentary directed by Kesang Tseten and Prem BK, titled Yudha Chitra – Frames of War has been released.

Frames of War follows the stories of civilians affected by the war, that tore apart the country and the people for 11 painful years. The handpicked stories depict the repercussions of the conflict from the individuals point of view, acknowledging the pain and sentiments of those directly affected by the armed-conflict.

The documentary, which was shot in three phases during the photo exhibition in eastern Nepal, depicts the many facets of the war, through the assortment of individual testimonies of the victims. The stories are of those who have lost their relatives, of those who have become handicapped, of those who have become mentally frail; moreover the stories are of the people, like us.

"It is very easy to overlook the fact that suffering is individual in nature, and the pain resides in individual bodies and psyche. The film attempts to acknowledge this," say filmmakers Kesang Tseten and Prem BK. The documentary succeeds in this aspect as the story goes beyond the headlines and captures the sentiments of the victims effectively, making the viewers connect with them on an emotional level.

The documentary is, at times, disturbing, standing as a stark reminder of the country in conflict, as it unflinchingly portrays the harsh realities as it is. The heartfelt stories depict the ugly face of war that, no matter how cruel it may be, is unavoidable. The haunting score sets the ambience perfectly while the story unfolds. Directors Tseten and BK's narrative flows quite smoothly for a relatively short film and the raw camera work add more strength to the narrative.

Even though the editing is remarkable, the narrative, however, is broken at times with small interviews and footages that rob away the attention of the viewers from it. Other than that, Frames of War succeeds in sharing the individual stories of the people to the world and making people realise that reconcilement is only possible through peace and justice. Even though the wounds heal with time, the pain and suffering and the irreparable damage caused on the human psyche are never healed.

(The documentary will be screened at 31 different venues across the nation from 11 April to 20 June. Entry is free. Visit www.nepa-laya.com for local screening time and venue.)

* Malin Gurung