Rising Silence by Leesa Gazi is a journey of relationships between women dealing with war, violence, and daily prejudice as they heal and create a future with unconditional love.

The film sheds light on the lives of sexual violence survivors in the aftermath of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

When society refuses to hear them, the Birangona, Heroines of the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh form a close bond in order to reveal their intimate and harrowing stories.

These amazing women have shared these truths with the next generation for greater understanding and healing. This is also a way to remember their strength in overcoming the ravages of conflict, violence and prejudice.

The film has won 15 international film awards worldwide, including the Asian Media Award for Best Investigation 2019 (UK) and the Best Feature Documentary in the PSVI film competition 2019 by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), UK.

This film is part of Banglaverse Film Festival organised by Tower Hamlets Council for Bangladesh@50, a season of events throughout 2021 which mark 50 years since the independence of Bangladesh.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director Leesa Gazi.

Award-winning documentary Rising Silence preserves the testimony of some of the 200,000 women abducted during the country’s war of independence.
The Guardian
Centred around interviews of Birongona women…. the descriptions are so alive, audiences don’t feel the need for dramatization
Dhaka Tribune
It is very emotional. Each country has its history. When I saw the film my heart was broken because it happened like Rwanda. It is like a mirror.
Maman Lambert, Rwanda

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