Movies like this are important. So important, in fact, I wish they could hold their own. There is currently another film out with this same title. It’s a Bollywood Tegalu film, and it is much, much bigger. The one that I saw is Nepalese with a heavy dose of misogyny and ugliness to boot.
All else being equal, go find the Nepalese if you have to see just one film entitled “Shakti.” I think.
The scene is Kathmandu. I’d say, “The other side of the tracks in Kathmandu,” but I’m not sure Kathmandu has a train or a section of the land that is far better off economically. True, I’ve never been to the capital of Nepal, so I cannot say for sure. Based on the film, what they do have is plenty of sexual violence. That’s always a good film topic, right?
Durga (Laxmi Bardewa) is the mother of nine-year-old Lila. The story is about Durga, but everything happens to Lila. The kid shows some talent for art, so mom tries to get Lila some lessons with a local pro.
And then there are … changes. Lila’s personality and health pivot immediately. Almost overnight, Lila becomes sickly and withdrawn. What the Hell has happened to her? Is this puberty. Well, of course not. Nine-year-old Lila is being sexually abused by her art teacher. That is just a really pleasant sentence to write, you know? I hope I get to write it over and over and over again.
Shakti literally means “power” and that’s where the extended tragedy of film comes in: Nepal is a caste system and Durga is part of the lowest caste. We know 
this from the United States: many men can and do get away with rape. A lot of that is about power – a powerful man is believed over a woman. It is as simple as that. We can examine the Trump-Epstein files again and again and again. We can ask the right questions and come to the obvious conclusions, but will justice happen? Well, everybody knows the Trump-Epstein files describe an entire Himalayan mountain range of crime … and yet, we have very little accountability for all the witness testimony and paperwork evidence to show.
Ah, Nepal, I’m sure you’ll get there one day, too. In the meantime, please enjoy some smalltime sexual abuse that likely will never be brought to justice either.
There once was girl from Nepal
Who showed artsy talent when she’d scrawl
So her mom sent for lessons
And instead got undressin’s
Imagine if there were justice for all
Not Rated, 95 Minutes
Director: Nani Sahra Walker
Writer: Nani Sahra Walker
Genre: Movies you’ll likely forget, no matter how powerful they are
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Nepali feminists
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Misogynists
