Piplu Khan’s Hasina: A Daughter’s Tale, a 70-minute docu-drama film that depicts the riveting story of Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was screened at the 11th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in Seoul, South Korea.

The film was screened twice on September 21 and 23 respectively at the prestigious festival. It was also shown to the diplomats living in Seoul, during a programme arranged by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul, South Korea.

Beginning with the tragic assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the film depicts Sheikh Hasina’s struggles and her rise to power, through a daughter’s narrative. It showcases her perspective on how Bangladesh’s darkest hours on August 15, 1975, changed her life forever.

Hong Hyung-Sook, Festival Director, DMZ International Documentary Film Festival. Photo: Courtesy

Nasrul Hamid Bipu, one of the two producers of the film, alongside director Piplu Khan and editor Navnita Sen were present at the occasion. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to South Korea Abida Islam, was also in attendance. After the first screening of the film, a special discussion was arranged at the festival, where Nasrul Hamid Bipu and others addressed the audience.

Hong Hyung-Sook, Festival Director, DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, spoke at the occasion. “The official selection of Hasina: A Daughter’s Tale in this year’s DMZ Documentary film Festival was a great discovery for the Korean audience. The film has opened up a past truth about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s family in a very humane way,” she said.

Jung Sang-jin, Vice Festival Director, DMZ International Documentary Film Festival & CEO, ATNINE Film, also shared his thoughts on the film and its significance. “15th August is a very important day for Korea as it commemorates Victory over Japan Day, when US and Soviet forces ended the decades-long Japanese occupation of Korea,” he said. “But I never knew 15th August was such a dark day for the people of Bangladesh. The tragedy that happened to Bangabandhu’s family was shocking and discovering its connection to the National Liberation Day of Korea gave me a new perspective on the Bangladeshi political history.”

Director Piplu Khan addressed the audience at the programme.

Hasina: A Daughter’s Tale was released on November 16, 2018, while the trailer was earlier released on September 28 in the same year that marked Sheikh Hasina’s 72nd birthday.

Since its release, the film received rave reviews in the international film circuit. It has also been selected for several prestigious international film festivals this year.