Highway

Though still a Shangri-la for trekkers, Nepal recently emerged from a 12-year civil conflict. Strikes, power cuts, and political impasses, as well as extensive road blockades known as “bandhs,” still disrupt the lives of all social classes. Against this background, and the breathtaking landscape of the Eastern hills, HIGHWAY takes us on one humorous but ill-fated bus journey from eastern Nepal to Kathmandu. As we churn along, we are introduced to the stories of several passengers, each of whom urgently need to be somewhere else. The bus hasn't been on the road long when it is stopped by a strike. Tired of being stuck in place for hours, the frustrated passengers come up with a creative way of getting through the blockade. HIGHWAY explores the psychological and spiritual “bandhs” that many Nepalese contend with, turning the bus into a microcosm of the country. It might break down and it might get stuck at mountain passes and behind buffaloes, but its passengers are all in it together. (In Nepali with subtitles) – B.B.