Devi

In 1997, 17-year-old Devi’s life took a harrowing turn. Arrested during the onset of civil war in Nepal, she was accused of being a rebel, subjected to torture, and endured the unimaginable trauma of rape while in custody. Branded a “victim,” Devi faced the weight of social stigm a, and battled depression and isolation. Her story didn’t end there, however. From joining the rebel frontlines to ascending through the ranks and eventually serving as a member of parliament after the war’s end, Devi defied all odds.

She is leading a quiet resistance. As she travels around Nepal, listening to stories of wartime rape survivors, and creating a unified voice for justice, she knows that she’s poking a hornet’s nest. Nepal’s leaders want to bury the shameful truth of wartime rape. As the only public face of survivors, Devi has decided that she can no longer stay silent. But her TikTok loving teenage daughter just wants her to be a mum.

Devi is an immersive vérité film that follows her remarkable journey. Through intimate encounters with her former lawyer and counsellor, the film digs deeply into personal moments, capturing Devi’s unwavering resilience. Supported by her diary, archival footage and breathtaking imagery, Devi reconstructs a history silenced by erasure, rewriting her own destiny in the process, and illuminates the power of survival, the quest for justice, and the conquering spirit of humanity.

Hot Docs (Best Social Impact Documentary Special Mention, World Premiere), Doc Edge (Competition), DMZ, Film South Asia (Winner Jury Award), Movies that Matter