KATHMANDU, Nepal – Filming has just finished on, Snow Flowers, a lesbian love story being dubbed “Brokeback Everest” and set to be the first gay feature film in the 60-year history of Nepalese cinema.
The movie, due for general release in the spring, is directed by Paris-based film-maker Suwarna Thapa, and stars Nepal’s leading actresses, Diya Maskey and Nisha Adhikari, in a story of two women tormented by their feelings for one another, reports AFP.
“It’s two individuals falling in love and facing all the controversy and restrictions, and mental, emotional and physical traumas of being a lesbian in Nepal,” Adhikari told AFP.
“It’s a simple love story with a lot of complications.”
Adhikari, 25, says the film is a first as it deals with the turmoil experienced by same-sex couples in Nepal, whereas previously gay people have always been depicted as figures of fun.
“The entire movie is based on the trauma – what it is like not being able to come out and live your life because there are so many restrictions,” she said.
“There is no liberty in not living your life the way you want, irrespective of who you are attracted to sexually. This movie will be an eye-opener for a lot of people who have just viewed these issues very superficially.”
Snow Flowers director Suwarna Thapa says he was not interested in just showing Nepal “what lesbians do”, but rather in telling a simple love story from a new angle.
“It’s not a shocking film, like war movies or propaganda films, but there will be some impact in Nepali society,” he told AFP.
“Nepal is changing but it cannot be changed by the day after tomorrow. It’s a long journey.”
