Jigmi Wangdi
The Bhutanese film ‘I, The Song’, directed by Dechen Roder, has been selected to premiere at the prestigious Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival or POFF.
One of the largest film festivals of Northern Europe, held in the capital city of Estonia,this year marks the 28th edition of the festival running from November 8 to 24.
A trailblazer in Bhutanese film industry, Dechen Roder drew inspiration for the film from a troubling facet of modern life—the pervasive influence of digital technology on privacy and personal relationships.
She said that cell phone culture has made it difficult to navigate one’s privacy, especially when personal and intimate relations between two people are recorded and shared online.
“Often times these recordings are gender-based and are commonly filmed against the woman’s knowledge. And we don’t think of the victim. Hearing about such incidents made me think about it and it became one of the major motivators for creating the film,” Dechen Roder said.
This stark reality forms the emotional backbone of ‘I, The Song’, a narrative that interweaves themes of identity, shame, and resilience.
The film tells the story of Nima, a schoolteacher whose life takes a chaotic turn when an explicit video surfaces online, showing a woman who looks identical to her. In an effort to ease the anger of her students’ parents, Nima sets out to find the mysterious woman.
However, her doppelganger, Meto, seems to have vanished without a trace. As rumours spread in the community about Nima’s striking likeness to Meto, many begin to suspect she is Meto’s ghost. To uncover the truth, the village elders advise Nima to sing Aum Tshomo’s sacred song, embarking on a profound journey of self-discovery and healing.
Dechen Roder said that it is a privilege for her to direct such films. “I am always inspired by real-life experiences and the surrealism of Bhutanese culture.”
The film took a few years to complete, as it took time to raise finances. “The film was produced mostly through international grants from France, Italy, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Australia.”
In addition, Samuh Mediatech, Bhutan’s first OTT platform, is the co-producersof the film.
The Founder and CEO of Samuh, Nyema Zam, said that Samuh was inspired to be part of this project because Dechen Roder is Bhutan’s foremost female filmmaker with internationally acclaimed films.
“For us, this was an opportunity to be a part of an international film featuring highly talented artists from Bhutan. At Samuh, we believe Bhutan has immense potential to create world-class films and investing in Bhutanese cinema with global potential can unlock this opportunity for Bhutan,” she said.
Central to the film’s emotional depth is actress Tandin Bidha, who takes on the dual roles of Nima and Meto. For her, the film’s selection at Tallinn is a milestone—a first for her career.
“As an actor, growth is always important. I had to play the roles of two completely different people with different characters. It did get difficult sometimes but with Dechen’s guidance, I was able to get through it,” Tandin Bidha said.
Dechen Roder’s first feature ‘Honeygiver Among the Dogs’ won three awards at the prestigious Fribourg International Film Festival, winning Special Jury Award, Youth Jury Award and Special Mention for the Don Quixote Award. Her short film ‘Lo Sum Cho Sum’ earned a nomination for the coveted Golden Berlin Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2015.