The devastating drama “A Road to a Village” is a quiet little film that sneaks up on you and proceeds to rip your heart out. Director Nabin Subba’s story of a rural Nepali family and how their big dreams must be traded in favor of mere survival.
It’s a timely (if sparse) story of how the rich oppress the poor with empty promises and flat-out lies, told through the viewpoint of a precocious young boy and a father who feels he has nothing left to lose. It’s a moving story of big aspirations and unthinkable tragedy, giving insight into the dreams and struggles of a rural Nepali family when a road connects their once-remote village to the modern world — and introduces them to novel symbols of wealth and status that are alluring and perilous.
Maila (Dayahang Rai) is a basket weaver who still lives the simple life that was set forth by his ancestors. His remote village has enjoyed peace and quiet, but now a new road that will connect them with the modern world is coming. His precocious son Bindray (Prasana Rai), who has become accustomed to making his own tows from paper and odd items he finds, now dreams of drinking Coke, owning a pair of sunglasses, and having his own television. With a promise to buy a t.v. for his son, Maila tries to make some money, but his neighbors now want cheap items from the city rather than his handmade goods.
It’s a heartbreaking story of a family man trying to make his way in the world, facing changing realities, and fostering a meaningful relationship with his son. There’s a humanity to the story that’s universal, as tragic as it may be to watch.
The performances are nuanced yet potent, and Subba fashions an astounding sense of time and place as well as culture and tradition. “A Road to a Village” feels highly personal, and it’s so much more effective because of it.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 