They are born of the reality lived by many Nepali workers scattered all around the world. But such stories of such workers are capable of moving only some sensitive Nepali hearts.
Sometimes it takes an outsider´s eyes, and ability to empathize, to hit home the nature of such tragedies. And a Korean filmmaker, Soo-il Jeon, has done just that—in a film he´s made about such hapless Nepali workers. The film is set to be major attraction this June, and it will be featured in dozens of Korean film theaters.
The film is titled Himalaya Sonyowa (Himalaya- An abode of Fresh Air). The lead actor is Choi Min-Sik, who plays the role of a company owner. Choi is an actor who has earned a special reputation in Korea and in the global scene for his excellent acting skills.
The film depicts the twists and turns that come into the life of the dumbstruck company owner after the Nepali who had come to him in search of work dies. After the death of the Nepali worker, the company owner brings the dead´s ashes to Nepal.
But when he reaches Nepal, his emotional turmoil swallows him whole. He gets so overwhelmed by the pathetic condition of the deceased’s family, that he just cannot bring himself to tell them the bad news. And he starts to feel that they are his responsibility. The love that he feels for the family soon overgrows the initial objects of his love, and soon he starts to fall in love with Nepal itself. In the end, he decides to stay here permanently.
This Korean film was a joint collaboration, in the truest sense of the word. According to Puru Joshi , a Nepali working in Seoul, many Nepali youngsters have played different roles in the film, and Nepal-Korean Cultural Platform has provided the background music for the film .
While its true that there have been other documentary films that had Nepal and Nepalis as their central themes before this film was made, and while the story of a Nepali worker-- Chandra Kumari Gurung, whowas confined in a mental hospital, mainly on account of the language barriers she encountered--was included in an earlier film, Himalaya Sonyowa is the first that has Nepal and a member of that Nepali working class who´ve been forgotten by Nepal herself as the main theme of the film.
Related story
Kathmandu Road Division Office starts blacktopping road demolis...
