When the Storm Came (2004) Online

I've watched this film in various film festivals, and it always succeeds in captivating me, and leaving me to contemplate the fate of these villagers. There are many important films out there, but this is certainly one that everyone should watch.

Through the personal stories of a remote village in Kashmir, the film maker shows the powerful connection that spans the different continents, eras and events with a devastating reality of women as a tool of geo-political agenda. Not only it addresses this issue, but also brings up tough questions regarding the lack of "voice" such victims face. India-Pakistan is but one of the many international conflicts where women's lives are destroyed, and the film maker succeeds in representing the delicate topic as a case study.

The result is both astounding and surprising. And the message is reinforced through the effective usage of striking images and the beautiful scenery, sound and editing.

Well done film. It was pretty shocking, especially, to see how reticent the women were in talking about what happened to them.

(More shocking still that this movie, a Sundance winner, has only eight votes).

Viewers who think that the bigoted terrorists are always Muslims may take pause from this film. When will Americans look at the BJP platform and its support for "Hindutva"? One criticism: the film's implication that soldiers somehow represent all men when they rape villagers was a little over the top. Viewers will be sick at many of the film's scenes, regardless of their gender.

Shilpi found a world of history in an isolated village that few of us had ever encountered, and wove a compelling narrative around it. She made its past seem very relevant, not only to those who are forced to continue living it, but also on a much more global scale.

The depth of original research and reporting was evident, making it easy for those of us who were not familiar with the history she reveals to grasp its broader implications for issues of sex and power. She clearly won the trust of the villagers she profiled, but the film does not come across as a condescending ethnography. Instead, it is a sympathetic portrait of, sadly, a very believable outrage.

My husband and I were floored by this documentary. We had no idea that these kinds of atrocities still happen in the world. We felt that the filmmaker must have taken a lot of time to research these people's history in order to respectfully bring their story to the public . She approached them with extreme sensitivity and a genuine passion and desire to help. I thought the information provided in the film was very objective and coupled with filming in the actual village where the rapes occurred made this short powerful. Many of the interviews were astounding... these women spoke calmly and clearly about the horror they experienced and how their families were abruptly torn apart. It is scary to think at this point in time, small, helpless villages are being taken advantage of and ravaged with no one to defend them. This was a fantastic documentary that everyone should see.

This documentary short is a moving, thought-provoking, and beautifully shot depiction of the impact of war on the women who survive it. Historical context and the women's own words are artfully woven together in a movie that tackles a difficult subject with the sensitivity that it deserves. It is incredible to hear the women's stories and their courage and tenacity in the face of tragedy. The fact that the documentary is shot in their village provides the viewer with a privileged glimpse of their world as they live it on a daily basis. The impact of the mass rape on the children that it produced is disturbing yet important to depict since the impact of such tragedies on children can be too easily overlooked. I highly recommend this documentary!!!

Fabulous use of historic events and picturesque scenery to give an eloquent, intellectual, and captivating account of a developing county's sufferings, particularly that of one village. Excellent translation. What a 'voice' these villagers have!

This gripping film takes you though the story of a village in India scarred by the wounds of a mass rape, the effects of which have impacted lives of both women and men years later. Tightly woven therein, the film explains the historical foundation for the conflict between India and Pakistan, then documents the history of rape as used as a weapon of war throughout the ages.

As the director brings this story to a peak, you too will think twice about a single historical underpinning that raises questions you've never thought to ask. Only a creative academic with an eye for nature's beauty and a heart for the under-served could bring you this film. Simply brilliant.