WATCH TRAILER

Light Fly, Fly High

A film by Susann Ostigaard, Beathe Hofseth

Norway | 2013 | 80 minutes | Color | DVD | Tamil | Subtitled | Order No. 141129

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SYNOPSIS

Thulasi, a young Indian woman in her twenties, is literally willing to box her way out of poverty and into a better life. A Dalit or “untouchable” born outside of caste, she rejected her place on society’s lowest rung at an early age and was forced to leave her parents’ home when only 14. Ten years later, despite her impressive record in the ring, ranking 3rd in India’s Light Fly category, Thulasi remains stuck at the bottom, deprived of opportunities she rightly deserves.

Despite an uphill battle against sexual harassment, poverty and the pressure to marry, Thulasi refuses to compromise herself and her goals and takes her destiny into her own hands. Filmed during three eventful years, LIGHT FLY, FLY HIGH is a beautifully shot, gripping and inspirational story of a courageous young woman who refuses to be anyone’s victim and ends up a hero of her own making against all odds.

PRESS

"Directors Beathe Hofseth and Susann Østigaard portray Thulasi’s struggles inside and outside the ring with a serene visual precision charged with sparks of humor and moments of despair that are beautifully reflective of Thulasi’s personality and plight."

Full Frame Film Festival

"Revelatory, unpredictable, and highly engaging. With excellent narrative control throughout, a well-chosen and deserving character was intimately and beautifully observed. This was a difficult subject and the documentary a microcosm for women’s issues that badly need highlighting."

Documentary Award Jury, One World Media One World Media

“This documentary’s rhythm reflects the rapid beat of the young boxer’s fists in her fight for freedom.”

FIFDH Geneva

“The filmmakers have picked a unique angle to discuss entrenched patriarchy and how misogyny can be battled, though perhaps at personal cost.”

Dilip Berman Saathee Magazine

“Revealing the challenges faced by many women struggling for equality, Light Fly, Fly High is a tribute to an unbreakable, independent spirit.”

Darwin Film Festival

“Thematically and emotionally compelling [and] well-directed.”

Savage

"Light Fly, Fly High addresses key themes in scholarship about women and sport research: body confidence as a means of fighting oppression; sport as social and economic freedom; economic desperation fueling a quest for personal freedom through sport."

Wendy Burns-Ardolino, Films for the Feminist Classroom

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • Oxfam Global Justice Award
  • Best Documentary, One World Media Awards
  • Amanda Award, Best Documentary
  • International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
  • Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
  • Goteborg Film Festival
  • Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
  • Sarasota Film Festival
  • Heartland Film Festival
  • Tromso International Film Festival
  • Zagreb Dox Documentary Film Festival
  • Tempo Film Festival Sweden
  • Tall Grass Film Festival

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Susann Ostigaard

Susann (born 1976) has a degree from Lillehammer and Volda University College, and has been working as a cinematographer and director since 2002.

She has made several documentaries for Norwegian television, including the film FROM DIFFERENT WORLDS which shared the award for Best Documentary (together with Margreth Olins' RAW YOUTH) at the Film Festival in Grimstad in 2005.

LIGHT FLY, FLY HIGH is her first feature-length film.

Beathe Hofseth

Beathe, (born 1977) is a documentary filmmaker graduated from Volda University College and NISS in Oslo. She has worked in film and television since 2002, and has directed several documentaries for both NRK and TV2. She has also been employed at NRK, making documentary series. Additional to this, she lectures students on documentary film making.

LIGHT FLY, LIGHT HIGH is her first feature-length film.

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