The 11th episode of Movie on the House (MOTH) at IIDS brought attendees together on July 18, 2025 for an afternoon of dialogue and reflection over a screening of Saurav Rai’s Crossing Borders–a poignant short film by Saurav Rai that delves into themes of connection and resilience while exploring the complex human landscape within Nepal’s borderlands. Following the screening, a thoughtful panel discussion unpacked the film’s central ideas with enthusiastic audience participation.
Many border films emphasize legality or nationalism or conflict or other types of issues at borders. This film quietly focuses on the ordinary. The film’s protagonists–two boys, Tashi and Karma, and a woman, Vidya–are carrying goods across an invisible line for survival. For most of these town dwellers, crossing the border is normalized. They make these crossings to access goods they need to survive (usually cheaper), better markets, or simply to follow their ancestors, just like elephants continue to cross into the forest border without the understanding we now have as humans of our own creation.
This was a story that was not simply about moving people or things across a line – it was about survival. They weren’t crossing borders, they were navigating through life. Everything they did stemmed from an instinctual desire to provide, survive, and exist as part of the systems that have historically and consistently ignored their existence.
The landscape also played a significant role too because it was a character itself, not simply an environment, In places like this the border is not a barrier it’s just part of life. People, and even elephants, crossed into the space as easily as a person would cross the street – forcing the viewer to consider the concept of borders as a construct.
The conversation following the showing featured filmmaker Mihir Pyakuryal, IIDS Program Specialist Astha Bhatta, special guest and actress Menuka Pradhan, and moderator Akhilesh Upadhyay–a Senior Fellow at IIDS. Together, they explored the film’s depth and engaged in a hearty dialogue with the audience.
Astha Bhatta opened by drawing attention to the imbalanced informal trade that shapes life along Nepal’s borderlands, noting how villagers regularly export relatively low-cost raw materials from Nepal and, in turn, import higher-value refined products from India and beyond. This trade, she argued, both sustains local livelihoods and subtly influences broader political and economic dynamics across the frontier. During the later Q&A, Upadhyay and members of the audience added to this assessment by examining how the nature of cross-border informal trade has evolved over time in step with shifting Sino-Indian diplomatic relations.
One notable point, raised by Mihir Pyakuryal, was that the entire film had been shot on an iPhone—a deliberate move away from traditional filmmaking. As he explained, this technological shift has the potential to democratize storytelling by enabling more individuals, especially in resource‑constrained settings, to explore their creative potential with a relatively low cost of entry.
Menuka Pradhan took a moment to express her gratitude to IIDS for hosting the event. She shared that participating had given her fresh insights into the film’s themes of connection and resilience, and that hearing the audience’s perspectives had enriched her appreciation for the power of minimalistic storytelling.
During the Q&A session, audience members posed thoughtful questions about everything from the ethical dilemmas faced by the characters to the practical challenges of shooting in remote locations on a smartphone. Panelists responded with candor: Mihir spoke about adapting to unpredictable terrain and lighting, Astha elaborated on the real‑world implications of informal trade networks, and Menuka reflected on how immersion in such stories can shape public understanding of marginalized communities. The exchange was lively and engaged, with several viewers commending the panel for shedding light on both the film’s creative process and its broader socio-political context.
In all, Crossing Borders offered more than a glimpse into life along Nepal’s peripheries—it provided a mirror reflecting the quiet struggles, dignity, and endurance of those living in the margins. The film’s understated power, amplified by its minimalist production and the thoughtful dialogue it inspired, underscored how the most profound stories often emerge not from grand spectacle, but from the everyday realities that define human resilience and connection.
This event summary was prepared by Violet Rana and Jack Long. Both Long and Rana are Summer Interns for IIDS.