Soongava: Dance of the Orchids explained

Soongava: Dance of the Orchids
Director:	Subarna Thapa
Starring:	Saugat Malla Deeya Maskey
Cinematography:	Sara Cornu
Runtime:	85 minutes
Country:	Nepal
Language:	Nepali

Soongava: Dance of the Orchids (Nepali: सुनगाभा, translit. Soongava) is a 2012 Nepalese drama film written and directed by Subarna Thapa. It is Nepal's first lesbian film.^[1] The film was selected as the Nepalese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards,^[2] but it was not nominated.

Cast

• Saugat Malla as Milan
• Deeya Maskey as Diya
• Nisha Adhikari as Kiran

Reception

Boyd van Hoeij writing for Variety, said the acting and technical aspects are passable, Hoeij further added "Unfortunately, the well-intentioned pic’s highly melodramatic (if tonally very serious) plotting and focus on a conservative, family-oriented society won’t do much to convince local queer youths that it does get better".^[3] Clarence Tsui of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "It's true that Soongava is not exactly an epic tragedy in terms of story and look".^[4]

See also

• List of submissions to the 86th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Nepalese submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Notes and References

1. Web site: Soongava: Dance of the Orchids. 26 August 2013. psfilmfest. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130901075459/http://www.psfilmfest.org/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=23886&fid=63. 1 September 2013.
2. Web site: Soongava: Nepal's entry to the Oscars. 26 August 2013. ekantipur. 10 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610225702/http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2013/08/25/life-and-style/soongava-nepals-entry-to-the-oscars/252829.html. dead.
3. Web site: Soongava: Dance of the Orchids. Hoeij. Boyd van. 30 January 2013. Variety. en. 30 April 2020.
4. Web site: Soongava: Dance of the Orchids: Film Review. The Hollywood Reporter. October 2013. en. 30 April 2020.