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Namrata
Description
For the first time in 17 years, Namrata Gill wraps herself in her wedding
sari. It doesn't bring back happy memories.
Her husband was supposed to be Prince Charming – whisking her away from Punjab
to a new life in Canada. But instead of living a fairy-tale dream, Gill found
herself in a nightmare. She worked long hours in her husband's Edmonton
convenience store, while facing increasing physical and emotional abuse from
her husband and in-laws. And the situation only worsened after the birth of
her daughter.
In this intensely personal short film, Gill – whose story was
one of many real-life inspirations for Deepa Mehta's feature film Heaven
on Earth – describes her six years
in an abusive relationship, and how difficult leaving can be when you are part
of a close-knit immigrant community.
Namrata is more than the story of one woman, told in her own
words. Its simple and personal approach opens the door for discussions on
domestic violence among new Canadians – and may even encourage others to share
their stories.
2009, 09 min 11 s
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