Kathmandu, May 13 -- As Meryl Streep said in her 2017 Golden Globes speech, "An actor's job is to enter the lives of people who are different from us, and let you feel what that feels like."

Swastima Khadka does exactly that in 'Lalibazar'.

Directed by Yam Thapa, the film explores the socioeconomic realities of the Badi community in Bardiya. The performances by celebrated Nepali actors, as well as the debut child actors, carry the emotional intensity with remarkable excellence.

From blithely aligning with the community's customs in the first half to sharp resistance in the second, Khadka's portrayal of her character's emotional transformation emerges as perhaps the most powerful screen presence of her career to date.

The film, while b...