Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
A Road to a Village
2023 Nepalese film From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
A Road to a Village (Nepali: गाउँ आएको बाटो, Gaun Aayeko Bato) is a 2023 Nepalese drama film directed by Nabin Subba.[1] The film is produced by Amod Rai and Nabin Subba and presented by Menchhyayem Pictures and Baasuri Films.[2] Dayahang Rai, Pashupati Rai and Prasan Rai star as the leads.[3] The film got official selections at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, São Paulo International Film Festival 2023 and Göteborg Film Festival 2024.[4][5] It was screened at the 28th Busan International Film Festival 2023 in the A Window on Asian Cinema strand.[6] The movie was also premiered at the 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2025 under the International Competition: Fiction section.[7][8]
Remove ads
Plot
Maila and his family live a simple village life in the mountainous region of eastern Nepal. When a road to their village is finally built, they see it as a blessing. Soon, along with the first bus, soda, television, and hip hop beats arrive. But as modern amenities creep in, Maila's life begins to take a new turn. He is trapped between sticking to tradition at home or going beyond the village to survive. Ultimately, they must figure out how to continue in a world that is leaving them behind.[9]
Remove ads
Cast
- Dayahang Rai as Maila: Basket weaver
- Pashupati Rai as Maile: Maila's wife
- Prasan Rai as Bindray: Maila's 7-year-old son
- Prem Subba
- Keshav Rai
- Raj Thapa
Reception
Summarize
Perspective
Alex Heeney of Seventh Row opined, "Like so many films in TIFF's Centrepiece section, one of the chief pleasures of A Road to a Village is the opportunity to see a completely different part of the world: its rituals, its spaces, and its gorgeous landscapes. The film drops you into a different world with relatable characters, and you laugh and cry with them."[10] Kalpa Jyoti Bhuyan of High On Films wrote, "By interrogating the mechanisms of modernization that often overlook the human cost of progress, A Road to a Village is not only emotionally powerful but also demonstrates the intellectual depth to engage audiences with global concerns about cultures and identities at risk."[11] Paul Emmanuel Enicola of The Movie Buff observed, "Tackling the themes of progress, tradition, and the indomitable spirit amid the changing of the guard; A Road to a Village is a philosophical inquiry into the human condition."[12]
Anupama Poudel of The Annapurna Express commented, "The movie seems to consolidate neoliberalism and brings to the fore its effects on social hierarchy and the rise of defeatist mentality in the people belonging to the lower social standing. However, the movie falls short in exposing the social dynamics of the village. As most of the plot revolves around the family dynamics of Maila Rai's family, the role of society at large isn't given enough space in the movie."[13] Shreya Dhar of The Varsity reviewed, "The film begins with a good balance between the lightness of the father-son bond and the dreariness of their uncertain future, but near the end, the viewer finds themself jolted unexpectedly by a heartbreaking twist. Right after this twist, the film could have transitioned into Maila and his wife leaving the village. Instead, the emotional impact of the ending is slightly watered down by the scenes that transpire after."[14]
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads