Her Own Address (2016)

Evocative and eloquent, this touching tale is a universal portrayal of what women face in Southeast Asia, through the trials and triumphs of Sutopar (Aparna Ghosh) and the different stages in her life - from child to wife to mother to old lady.

From a carefree childhood, Sutopar (her nickname) is literally torn away from her friends when she has reached the age of marriage. A suitable groom has been found and his male relatives grill Sutopar on her name, her education, and her obedience. Her conditioning forces her to remain obedient and docile despite a barrage of degrading questions. Soon, the beautiful teenager receives approval and is sent off on a boat to her husband's house, even though she breaks down and sobs as she leaves her mother's arms.

Sutopar has to learn how to be a housewife, taking care of her in-laws, cooking, cleaning and other chores around the house. Her husband (Jayanta Chatterjee) gets his own place in the city, and Sutopar sets up home there happily. A son arrives, and she is now a good mother. Her husband dies suddenly, and surviving on his pension proves impossible. To add to her woes, she is forced to vacate the place within three months.

Her brother comes to her aid, and she and her son stays with him and his family for 12 years. The grown-up son (Shahadat Hossain) sets up his own business, using his late father’s property. All Sutopar has left is a place next to her late husband’s burial plot, if she dies before his brother. The filial son does well, and gets his own place, moving his mother in with him and soon his wife.

As Sutopar goes from house to house, her trusty suitcase follows, taking up pride of place in a corner of the room, wherever she is. One day, the mother of Sutopar’s daughter-in-law turns up and decides to stay. As she has to share the room with Sutopar, she tells her to move back to her brother’s place.

This indignity seems to be the final straw and when her sister-in-law refuses to take her back, Sutopar leaves her son’s apartment, trusty suitcase in hand, and boards a train. Where will she go when all her life societies, the patriarchal society is forced her to remain dependent upon men?