A glimpse into the life of Ashmina, a teenage girl from Pokhara who works in the tourist industry in Nepal. With a simple storyline director Dekel Berenson unravels the imbalance relationship which govern our globalized world, firstly between country but ultimately between people.
15 Reviews
Short fiction at its best
per-1096521 November 2019
By assisting western skydiver tourists, Nepali teenager Ashmina provides for her family while her brothers get to go to school. An elegantly presented dilemma lifts the film from being simply another drama of third-world-misery to a world class fiction short.
Sad but Beautiful
vinessa-uter9 January 2020
Loved it!
wordscannotdescribe3 January 2020
ASHMINA TAKES ME BACK TO MY TEEN YEARS
maggygatama10 January 2020
This film has reminded me of my teenage years,i can relate with the social and tradition barriers she is facing.
The storyline is simple, well written and is on point,it is based on real life experiences and speaks volume.
The challenges that women face especially in countries that are Conservative and poor but asmnina is determined to succeed.
I will definately recommend this film to my family and friends .
Thumbs Up!
qams-528739 January 2020
EXPENSIVE SPORTS IN POOR COUNTRIES
barbara-396294 March 2019
Great Film
daniel-361-6302974 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
In a Nepali paradise for paragliding fans a girl helps tourists in exchange for a couple of coins. At the heart of Ashmina, the girl who gives the title to this short film by Dekel Berenson, the desire arises to forge her own path. The problem is that she does not have the support of her family who only see her as a source of income. Berenson builds an intimate story that exploits the natural beauty of Pokhara and immerses her heroine in a small journey where the insignificant can become transcendent.
About outdated traditions and captitalism
m-orth13 January 2019
Ashmina seeks self-determination in a patriachal society
info-7574229 March 2019
The film shows a young woman in Nepal, who wants a more self-determined life and thereby encounters social and family boundaries. It is frightening, as the story also reminds of our own holiday experiences with locals and the arrogance of western travelers hurts. The film is quietly told, but has a certain tension in the background. It stimulates reflection and is aesthetically pleasing.
Sensitive and anti-patriarchal
cardes-5508714 November 2019
Amazing
stephanie-7573122 March 2019
actions and consequences
ferguson-625 June 2019
Greetings again from the darkness. For many countries, tourism is vital to economic stability. For that revenue, there is often a price to pay. It could be overcrowding, destruction of natural resources, diminishing local culture, or even a jolt to pride and self-respect. With majestic Everest within its borders, Nepal has become a popular spot for western tourists to visit and partake in paragliding.
As one of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal and its citizens are forced to cater to the tourists, and that's where we meet 13 year old Ashmina (played by Dikshya Karki). The young girl spends her days hustling for tips by packing up the parachutes of the paragliders after they land. We hear the obnoxious westerners discouraging their friend from 'over-tipping', though he initially has some compassion for Ashmina.
We learn more about Ashmina when we follow her home. She is prevented from attending school like her brother, and is instead expected to work all day and deliver her tips to the family. When her request for pocket money is denied by her parents, her solution provides a moment of enjoyment, followed by a harsh reminder of her place.
Filmmaker Dekel Berenson based the film on his own experiences while traveling, and his 15 minute short film (and its dark turn at the end) is particularly timely given what's happened recently with some tourists in the Dominican Republic.
As one of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal and its citizens are forced to cater to the tourists, and that's where we meet 13 year old Ashmina (played by Dikshya Karki). The young girl spends her days hustling for tips by packing up the parachutes of the paragliders after they land. We hear the obnoxious westerners discouraging their friend from 'over-tipping', though he initially has some compassion for Ashmina.
We learn more about Ashmina when we follow her home. She is prevented from attending school like her brother, and is instead expected to work all day and deliver her tips to the family. When her request for pocket money is denied by her parents, her solution provides a moment of enjoyment, followed by a harsh reminder of her place.
Filmmaker Dekel Berenson based the film on his own experiences while traveling, and his 15 minute short film (and its dark turn at the end) is particularly timely given what's happened recently with some tourists in the Dominican Republic.
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