Pooja, Sir
Synopsis
The streets of the southern Nepalese town of Rajagunj are full of protestors from the long-marginalised Madhesi ethnic group, and they’re fighting for their civil rights. In the midst of the unrest, two boys are taken. Detective Inspector Pooja – played by Asha Magrati, the director’s wife and also the film’s co-writer – is dispatched from Kathmandu. Though a smart and stoic officer, she struggles to navigate the town’s entrenched hierarchies – and, as a lesbian who herself asks to be referred to as “Sir”, she’s viewed by the locals with a mix of suspicion and bemusement. In shaping this detailed, unflinching procedural, Magrati?and director Deepak Rauniyar (himself Madhesi) drew from a real-life case, as well as their own experiences.
Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.
Special Guests
Asha Magrati is a screenwriter, producer, and actress whose work has premiered at major international film festivals, including Venice, Berlin, Toronto, and Locarno. Her latest film, Pooja, Sir, premiered at the Venice Film Festival to critical acclaim and has since screened at dozens of festivals. She is the co-founder of Aadi Films – the producer of films such as Pooja, Sir, White Sun, Highway, and Four Nights. Asha’s acting credits include White Sun, Highway, and Kagbeni, among others.
Deepak Rauniyar is an award-winning writer-director whose films have premiered at Venice, Berlin, Toronto, Locarno, Rotterdam, Busan, and Sydney. The first Nepali filmmaker to compete at a major international festival, Deepak’s feature White Sun – Nepal’s Oscar entry and winner of the Interfilm Award at Venice Film Festival – screened at SFF in 2017, the same year Rauniyar served on the Official Competition Jury. Rauniyar is known for merging taut storytelling with urgent social commentary on racial and gender inequity.
Tickets
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