Director of The Black Hen, a social drama from Nepal, Min Bahadur Bham is delighted. Few Nepali films have gained the attention and appreciation that his debut film is garnering. The Black Hen is featured in the Competition Films section at IFFK. Set against the breath-taking valleys and mountains of Nepal, the film is a social drama during the time of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal.
The actors in the film
The actors in the film are very new to films. Most of them had not watched a movie in their life. The children hadn’t even seen a digital camera. There were workshops organised for the actors, young and old for six months, during which time, they were given pointers on how to be in front of the camera.
On the reception of his film
I was very happy note that unlike a few other festivals I’ve been to outside India, where for a film festival, you mostly catch old people, here, the younger lot throng the scene. It’s very impressive. I was happy that my film was encouraged here.
Language in the film
We spoke the authentic Nepali language in the film. Except for another technician and I, none of the people on the set spoke the language (referring to the numerous pidgin and creole languages that are prevalent in Nepal). So, it was a difficult task making everyone speak the language correctly.
Problems while shooting
As the subject matter was political, the shooting of the film was interrupted a few times by tMaoists and the government. However, it went on smooth after a point and we successfully completed it.