WALDOBORO — The Waldo Theatre, along with Equinox Guiding Service, will host a special benefit screening of Pasang - In the Shadow of Everest, “a new important documentary film that tells one of the most poignant of contemporary untold tales of female heroism,” said The Waldo, in a news release.
The screening will be Saturday, March 18, at 7 p.m. This event was originally scheduled for March 4, but was rescheduled due to inclement weather.
The documentary chronicles Pasang Lhamu Sherpa’s tragic and inspiring journey to become the first Nepali woman to summit Everest in 1993. As an uneducated, indigenous woman and a Buddhist in a Hindu kingdom, Pasang’s dream to scale the legendary mountain pits her against family, foreign climbers, her own government, and nature itself. Her determined pursuit of Everest plays out within the context of her nation’s quest for democracy and the emergence of the commercial climbing industry.
“This story needs to be told,” said Director Nancy Svendsen, in the Waldo news release. “It needs to be told outside of Nepal where Pasang is a household name. Pasang is the most well known contemporary hero in Nepal, but no one has ever told her story outside of Nepal.”
This award winning film is still in its festival run and has been a favorite worldwide winning Best Mountain Film at the 2022 Banff Mountain Film Festival, Best Adventure Documentary at 2022 Mountainfilm, Best Mountain Film at the 2022 Kendal Mountain Film Festival and many more, according to the release.
This event is presented by Equinox Guiding of Camden and is free with a suggested donation of $10 – $29 (29,032 is the height of Everest!). All proceeds will go (50/50) to support the film’s distribution in schools in Nepal and its Nepal premier and also to support future programming at The Waldo.
Registration is required as seating is limited. The Waldo encourages attendees to come early to enjoy an opening slide show with some of Dorjee Sherpa’s (Pasang’s brother) favorite Nepali music and a beautiful slideshow of Nepal. The film will be preceded by a pre-recorded message from Director Nancy Svendsen and Dorjee Sherpa. After the film, The Waldo will hold a raffle and a brief Q&A with Ruth Bender, a part time Maine resident and one of the film’s most ardent supporters.
For tickets, please register at www.thewaldotheatre.org/film.
For more information on the film, please visit, https://pasangmovie.com
