"Submissive" women might assert their role time permitting

Undoubtedly, the European nations have achieved what ever they wished for some two hundred years ago. It is not for nothing that the Europe of today is termed as a highly developed West. They are highly developed because they worked hard to attain today's height. What we in South Asia have been thinking today, they thought of that some two hundred years ago or even much ahead of that. The difference: the European population and their leaders converged their energy and efforts aimed at development and unlike our population and the leaders they did not quarrel with each other on matters of national development. Indeed, the levels of development in various European nations varies but yet even the poorest of the poor in that community is two hundred times ahead of the development what we have today.

The process of development had its impact felt on all possible sectors including gender awareness which allowed the female members of the society to assert their power and role in the existing society. The process continued for long which brought the females to the forefront of the national politics. This could be seen in the increasing number of females in politics, social works, cinema, medicines, aviation and the likes in today's European society.

While European nations quickly concluded that the female members too were the harbinger of progress and hence encouraged the weaker sex to proceed with full conviction and confidence to the extent that a number of female leaders have made their places in their country's history. And this they did on their own which inevitably enjoyed the support and encouragement from the other sex. The result is that they have developed and here we are left to talk about their development only. The fault lies with us.

But yet, to change a society takes time. The level of development in France or for that matter in the French cinema is definitely very high as compared to the level of the same in our part of the world.

At times, the prevailing traditions and cultures does not allow a particular country to break the long continuing culture(s) at a go. Slowly and slowly even the primitive societies of the past have started adapting to the changing needs of time. Nepal too has changed much of late. We now talk of gender equalities; we now have women as leaders; we now have in abundance film actresses and time permitting will have women film directors. The Nepali society is changing indeed but yet it will take some more time to catch the speed of the rest of the countries.

It is in this context, I would like to touch upon the impending French film festival that is to begin from this week. The film festival revolves around women. The films apparently deal with the advancement attained and achieved by French women in the domain of cinema from acting to film direction.

The festival is expected to offer the Nepali cine-goers a glimpse of the existing tradition and culture of the developed French society and the place of the women in that society. In my opinion, the Nepali viewers, more so attached to the film making in Nepal, will get a golden opportunity to learn from the French films so many things which later they could apply in their own endeavors.

"South Asian films" generally portray women as "submissive" ones which are bit different in the French films", so said Dominique PLASSARD, the first secretary at the French embassy while talking to the press on Monday. Portraying the women in submissive form should be understood in the light of the prevailing conditions in which the South Asian women are forced to live which almost has become now a routine work for this sex. But things are changing indeed in South Asia as well and hence Madame Dominique will time permitting see a Himalayan change in the activities of the women. Nepali women have become already aware and will perhaps take care of their gained or hard won freedom that has allowed them to assert their own new role. The Nepali women will definitely enjoy the French films, I guess.

"This could be due to the prevailing deep rooted cultures in South Asia" opined Dominique.

The director at the Alliance Francaise, Ms. Chantal Lama dwelt at length about the French film and the Kathmandu festival that begins from this Thursday.

The film festival will be a grand success. Advanced congratulations to Madame Dominique for her splendid performance at the press meet. Kudos to Chantal Lama for her excellent briefing regarding the films. And to the Kathmandu Film Archives which is assisting this festival to happen here.

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