Dinner and Movie with VAFF: Menstrual Man Reviewed
by Winnie Tam, VAFF Executive Member
VAFF had the pleasure of being the community partner of Cinevolution Society’s DocuAsia Forum, an event that showcased documentaries focusing on sensitive and relevant social issues from Asia.
On Friday, March 14, I attended DocuAsia’s closing night presentation of Menstrual Man at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Richmond.
Menstrual Man tells the tale of Muruganantham in India who, after realizing 90 per cent of women in his country do not use sanitary pads and suffer devastating health problems as a result, dedicated himself to bring about change. After years of perseverance, Muruganantham gave rural Indian women an affordable way to have access to sanitary pads and created a revolution that empowered countless women through economic independence.
Muruganatham’s success did not come easily. In the years it took him to research, produce and perfect the manufacturing process of the sanitary pads, he was scoffed by people in his own village and abandoned by his wife and mother, who thought that he had gone mad.
Despite this, Muruganatham stuck to his vision. Rather than chasing after profits, Muruganatham focused on social entrepreneurship to ensure the sustainability of his business and keep it accessible to the people who need it most. Although Muruganatham repeatedly emphasized that he is uneducated and illiterate throughout the film, it was clear that he is a true visionary and a role model for many.
Following the screening, there was a lively panel discussion with Madeleine Shaw, a social entrepreneur and co-founder of Lunapads, a manufacturer and ecommerce retailer of natural feminine hygiene products; and Surita Jhangiani from Capilano University, whose dissertation examined how Punjabi immigrant women define mental health and the barriers they face when accessing mental health resources.
The panellists and audience members shared their thoughts on the film and while there were conflicting views on some issues, everyone agreed that what Muruganatham achieved was an inspiration and nothing less than extraordinary.
Thank you, Cinevolution Society, for hosting DocuAsia and giving audiences in Metro Vancouver the valuable opportunity to enjoy such unique documentaries. VAFF was proud to be a community partner and we look forward to many more partnerships in the future.
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