Doc Edge 2024: Devi | Interview of Subina Shrestha

The programming of the 19th edition of the Doc Edge Festival seems to raise a pivotal question: “how to overcome trauma and transform pain into resilience?” From Mediha to Resilient Man, through Sugarcane or I Shall Not Hate, the audience of the Oscar-qualifying international documentary festival encounters humbling and profoundly inspiring figures demonstrating unimaginable resilience. This theme resonates strongly with Devi, the documentary feature by Subina Shrestha, making its Asia Pacific debut following a world premiere at Hot Docs 2024, where we had the pleasure of reviewing and celebrating its exceptional quality. 

In the heart of Subina Shrestha’s documentary lies a narrative that intertwines personal trauma with a relentless pursuit of justice. Devi powerfully exposes Nepal’s silenced female voices in the aftermath of war, as Devi Khadka, a woman whose harrowing journey through the Nepali Civil War (1996-2006) became a catalyst for her transformation into an outspoken advocate for survivors of wartime atrocities, fearlessly fights for justice amidst a culture of impunity.

During the festival, filmmaker Subina Shrestha, accompanied by Devi Khadka herself, attended the screenings of the film and engaged in moving and enlightening Q&A sessions with the New Zealand audience.

We had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker Subina Shrestha to learn more about the making of Devi, a successful Doc Edge Pitch alumnus. 

Subina Shrestha, reflecting on her deep connection to the project, explains, “I am from Nepal. I was born and raised in Nepal. I started my journalism and filmmaking career at the same time the conflict started.” Her early career was marked by a commitment to telling stories, particularly those of women who found themselves entangled in the chaos of war. “I used to do short documentaries and early on I was trying to tell the stories of women,” she recalls.

The film delves into Devi Khadka’s tumultuous past, starting with her arrest at seventeen, accused of rebellion and subjected to torture and rape in custody. Shrestha recounts, “When Devi was arrested, a lot of newspaper articles came out. One was particularly brutal: some feminist journalists actually wrote about how she had tarnished the reputation of the entire police force, which was quite shocking.” Despite initial hesitations, Shrestha was determined to connect with Devi, whose journey from victim to activist resonated deeply with her own storytelling ethos.

After publicly forgiving her perpetrators, Devi handed her diary to Shrestha in early 2019. “Here’s my diary. You can do whatever you want with it,” Shrestha recalls. “She trusted me to tell her story,” Shrestha adds.

Navigating Devi’s complex emotions and history required a delicate approach. Shrestha elaborates, “It took us a while, almost a year of reading the diary, doing more interviews, just to make her feel comfortable.” The process involved building trust through multiple visits and discussions, respecting Devi’s trauma and her cautious approach towards the media.

Addressing the challenge of not re-traumatizing Devi during the filming process, Shrestha emphasizes, “It’s all about building trust. She was still traumatized. She hadn’t gone back to a therapist.” This therapeutic aspect of the filmmaking process was crucial, allowing Devi to revisit painful memories in a supportive environment facilitated by her own trusted therapist.

Throughout the documentary, Shrestha’s role evolved from filmmaker to advocate, echoing Devi’s transformation into a political figure and leader within the survivor community. “She really lobbied to get a lot of things done,” Shrestha notes, highlighting Devi’s pivotal role in pushing for legislative changes and reparations for wartime survivors. 

One of the standout scenes in the film is when Devi and a group of female survivors confront Nepal’s Prime Minister. “Devi had a 9-point demand and that was quite powerful,” Shrestha admires. Transitional Justice Bill is with the law makers in Nepal’s parliament now. “She managed to include almost all her demands in that bill,” Shrestha adds, underscoring Devi’s unwavering determination.

The filmmaking journey was arduous yet transformative, spanning over four years of shooting and editing. Shrestha reflects on the collaborative effort that brought Devi to fruition, noting the contributions of her editing team and the challenges they navigated together. “It was constantly shooting and editing at the same time,” she explains, describing the meticulous process of shaping Devi’s narrative into a cohesive story of resilience and advocacy. She noted, “We worked with two editors, and it was interesting to see what each editor brought.” Nicole Halova was key in viewing Devi’s journey through the lens of a warrior’s arc. As for Phil Jandaly, he delved deeply into the trauma aspects of the story, which Shrestha found overwhelming: “It traumatized me…there’s so much harm.” Despite the challenges, both editor’s approach was pivotal in shaping the final film. Shrestha emphasized the collective effort required to complete the project, concluding, “It took a village.”

On top of capturing Devi’s personal journey, the film also illuminates broader issues of gender-based violence and the lingering scars of conflict. In this regard, Shrestha’s portrayal of Devi as both a symbol of resilience and a beacon of hope for survivors is powerful.

Beyond the film itself, Shrestha and her team embarked on an impact campaign, with the help of Think Films, and along with ShareDoc, to support Devi’s ongoing activism, through her organisation called The Undefeated. “We built an impact campaign along with the film,” she mentions, highlighting efforts to raise funds and amplify Devi’s message of justice and empowerment.

Initially pitched at Doc Edge, the project faced difficulties in securing funding. Shrestha explained, “It was really difficult to raise funds for it. We basically raised our personal funds to start filming.” The project’s perseverance paid off as it gained traction through various pitching events, ultimately returning to Doc Edge in 2024, marking a full circle for Shrestha.

In conclusion, and as pointed out by our writer Aurélie Géron in her review of Devi, Subina Shrestha brilliantly delivers the portrait of a woman who makes the courageous choice to overcome her fears and traumas and engage in a difficult battle to acknowledge the rights of female rape victims in Nepalese society.

We are thrilled to be covering Doc Edge 2024 on the ground in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. Explore our exclusive coverage here.