White Sun – Seto Surya (2016)

Directed by: Deepak Rauniyar | 89 minutes | adventure, drama | Actors: Dayahang Rai, Asha Maya Magrati, Rabindra Singh Baniya, Sumi Malla, Amrit Pariyar, Sarada Adhikari, Deepak Chhetri, Deshbhakta Khanal, Ganesh Munal, Pramod Agrahari, Maotse Gurung, Pramila Tulachan

Each country has its own traditions to honor the dead. While people in Madagascar have a famous ritual in which the remains of their loved ones are dug up every few years and sprinkled with wine or perfume, the inhabitants of a region in the Philippines do it differently: the corpses are hoisted into their Sunday clothes and placed on a chair. As if that wasn’t special enough, they also get a lit cigarette placed between their lips. While it is at least remarkable in the West when a deceased person is hoisted through a window (for example in the case of a person that is too bulky), in Nepal it is forbidden to carry recently deceased persons out through the front door.

In ‘White Sun’ (‘Seto Surya’), the second feature film by Nepali Deepak Rauniyar, we witness such a ritual, which is bound by many rules. Chandra’s father, a former fighter in Nepal’s civil war, has died in his bedroom. Chandra has not been to his native village for a long time, but returns as soon as possible when he hears of the death of his father, who was also the village chief. Along the way, he meets the homeless orphan Badri, who cannot be ignored. Upon returning home, Chandra finds his wife Durga and her daughter Pooja. Pooja, who longs to know who her father is – she hopes Chandra – represents the cutest thing in this movie without a doubt. With her innocent, but at the same time curious look, she easily conquers a place in the hearts of the viewers.

Durga has been taking care of Chandra’s father Chitra all this time, but she is not allowed to touch her father-in-law’s body. So moving Chitra’s body takes quite a bit of work. This is partly due to family relationships. Chandra has a brother, Suraj, who is politically diametrically opposed to him. Suraj was loyal to the monarchy during the civil war, Chandra is more progressive and a strong supporter of the Maoists. While transporting Chitra’s body, the two brothers get into a heated argument, with Suraj eventually leaving his father’s body behind and Chandra having to look for other strong men who can help him carry the body. On this quest he is accompanied by Pooja and Badri.

‘White Sun’ is a beautiful drama, in which the various social contrasts that Nepal has are well expressed. The old generation versus the younger generation, conservatism versus progressiveness, the lower castes versus the higher castes, the rights of men and women, it all becomes clear in an appealing story with believable characters. Add to that the fact that the surroundings are beautifully captured, and you can conclude that Deepak Rauniyar has made a film that he can be proud of. And the ending is hopeful.