Cast :Chuskit-Jigmet Dewa Lhamo; Dorje (Grandfather)-Morup Namgyal (Padma Shri);Tsering (Mother)Yanchen Dolma;Stobdan (Brother)-Padma Chospel;Sonam (Father)-SS Wangchuk; Norbu (Neighbour)-Tsetan Angchok; Angmo (Chuskit's friend);Stanzin Ngidon;Deskit -Chuskit's friend)Yanchen Dolma; Ahmad (Doctor)-Satyadeep Misra
Written and Directed by Priya Ramasubban
Produced by Priya Ramasubban
Director of Photography:Arvind Kannabiran
Production Design: Aradhana Seth
Costume Design: Deepali Kosta Kabi
Editor: Jabeen Merchant
Background Score: Mathias Duplessy
Sound Design:Satheesh PM
Chuskit, who lives an idyllic life in this
mountainous region of Ladakh, India, has a simple dream - of going to school with
her friends, following in the footsteps of her older brother who is an exemplary
student. But when an accident turns her into a paraplegic her dreams are cut
short and she is confined at home.
Besides her frustrations with her physical impediments, Chuskit
also faces the strict old world rules of her grandfather who believes in compromising
to constraints and limitations, and restraining one’s dreams and aspirations.
But lucky for Chuskit, her inventive brother, her ever understanding parents, and her concerned therapist doctor, keep her spirits and hopes alive. She keeps fighting the restrained
reality her grandfather wants her to accept, and continues to dream that an almost
normal life in-spite of her disabilities will be possible one day.
The story provides an exhilarating and inspiring narrative. With the heartrending and the happy twists and turns of Chuskit's life and how she eventually makes it to school with the help of her family, community and the whole village,
The story provides an exhilarating and inspiring narrative. With the heartrending and the happy twists and turns of Chuskit's life and how she eventually makes it to school with the help of her family, community and the whole village,
The excellence of this touching movie is enhanced by stellar debutante performance of Jigmet Dewa Lhamo as Chuskit, and other actors like Morup
Namgyal playing the grand father, and Padma Chospel playing the
brother. The photography and cinematography deserve applause for capturing the beauty of idyllic Ladakh in the story.
Lastly, the Filmmaker Priya
Ramasubban’s efforts inspire and create impact while bringing in the discussion of disabilities to mainstream
attention in India. The
film is inspired by heartwarming real-life events witnessed by Priya’s sister –
Vidya, who worked with the differently-abled in Ladakh, and was instrumental in
sending Sonam, a nine-year-old with cerebral palsy to school despite the
arduous terrain in her remote Himalayan village. The film is based
on the book written by Vidhya’s friend,
Sujatha Padmanabhan — Chuskit Goes To
School (2011).
In Conversation with the film maker Priya Ramsubban
on Skype after the movie - When asked about - How life with disabilities is not easy in India. She gives a very
encouraging answer, saying : “Accessibility and systems work well in the West,
but in India and other Asian countries, people and communities make things
work even where systems may not exist!” .
Hopefully movies like these motivate and influence
the mindfulness of people in South Asian countries to empathize with the needs
of disabilities and their desire for normal independent lives. And work to
create better accessibility infrastructure which is very lacking compared
to the western world and change the psyche and outlook towards people
with disabilities.
The Indiememe Film festival of 2019 had a soft opening on Sunday April 14 with a showing of some short films made by students in the Austin community , a long short film directed by Mohd Gani- Gubbare , followed by Priya Ramasubban’s inspirational movie- Chuskit.
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