Sita: A Girl from Jambu
Introduction
Sita: A Girl from Jambu tells the story of a young Nepalese girl who is trafficked into sexual slavery. Adapted from a street drama conceived and staged by village girls in and around Hetauda, Nepal, the film also incorporates footage of a public performance of the play. An innovative blend of documentary and fiction, "Sita" offers an inside look at village life and the cultural landscape of rural Nepal. The film was made in collaboration with local grassroots organizations and shot on location in the heavily trafficked Eastern Terai region of Nepal, near the Indian border.
Sita lays out the root causes of child exploitation in the global sex trade and stimulates a discussion on women's empowerment. It also raises awareness in the local population about the nature of HIV/AIDS. Few documentaries focus exclusively on Nepal, nor provide an intimate view of everyday life and the cultural and economic factors that lead to the exploitation and prostitution of women and children.