Marionettes (and the virtue of a lotus flower)

Trapped in a never-ending cycle of suffering, the marionettes are resigned to their fate. But one mother, questioning the purpose of their existence and the tradition that keeps them bound, pleads with the gods for their release from this endless misery.

Growing up and to this day, my mother often tells me stories of my grandmother, how she got married at the age of 13 to a 27 years old man and how he physically and mentally abused her. Bearing constant abuse and traumas, she suffered from mental illness her whole life. Although I never saw my grandmother, I connected with her through my mother's stories. This project is an artistic journey where I meditated on the lives of my grandmother and mother and looked for new meaning and perspective to see their endurance and sacrifices. We are a small team with people from different genders, cultures, and nationalities telling a story of a Nepali mother and a daughter and advocating against the global issue of child marriage. We aim to create a film that can voice all the mothers and children affected by child marriage. The practice of child marriage is a violation of human rights, affecting children across regions, cultures, and religions. According to UNICEF, 12 million girls under 18 are married each year, robbing them of their childhood and exposing them to emotional, physical, and sexual violence.