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Nurse's 72-Hour Shifts: A Life on Hold
12 Oct
Summary
- Nurse Selvi works extreme shifts, from 12 to 72 hours.
- Her dream is to become a nurse in Singapore.
- The film explores compromises and exhaustion in caregiving.
The film "Selvi," premiering at the Busan International Film Festival, spotlights the life of a homecare nurse whose demanding schedule can extend from 12 to an arduous 72 hours. This exhausting work routine profoundly shapes her existence, while she harbors aspirations of qualifying as a nurse and relocating to Singapore for better opportunities.
The narrative emphasizes how Selvi's crisis doesn't manifest as a single dramatic incident but rather through a continuous accumulation of working hours, additional responsibilities, and small concessions that escalate into an overwhelming burden. The film's visual language, particularly the imagery of kites, symbolizes the yearning for hope beyond immediate circumstances, contrasting with the narrowing domestic spaces where her life is confined.
Director Sailesh Rathnakumar noted that many nurses he met came from rural areas, highlighting a hierarchy within the care sector where some have pathways abroad while others remain in precarious, demanding roles. The film's intimate perspective ensures the audience experiences events only as Selvi does, deepening the connection to her journey and struggles.
