Opinion Piece on Period. End Of Sentence-A Netflix Documentary

Period, The end of sentence is an utterly honest account of the stigmas and myths which exist in the name of menstruation and how even in the 21^st century the world isn’t as progressive as it seems and how women in India still live under clouds of patriarchy, ignorance and lack of education.

The film is set in Hapur only 60 Km from Delhi, India. The stark difference in the places is evident as the film progresses be it in the lifestyle or in the mindset. The film starts of as and when two young girls are asked about periods and they shy away in hesitation. When older women are asked, they have no answer either. It is frightening acknowledging how little they know. The men are just as bad if not worse.

Lack of awareness, poor social conditions and a lot of storytelling based on myths and lies force women to consider menstruation as dirty. Women consider it as a hindrance to their lives and a cause for inferiority. The fact that no one talks about it makes it worse. They don’t know why it’s happening and what to do when it is happening. They depend on cotton fabric and disposing them is often laborious and embarrassing.

With the coming of the sanitary plant in the village and the proper understanding of periods, women are more accepting to the pads and enroll themselves in a factory where the pads are produced. It’s liberating to see these women being empowered and saddening to realize how respect is often measured in terms of the money one earns. With each rupee they earn they are more self-assured and confident.

As the women begin their quest to popularize the sanitary napkin to the entire village, the men are not too far behind either. It warmed my heart to see a man make a piece of pad without any hesitation.

What I loved about the film was how things were shown exactly for what they were. The sensitive issue was handled with grace and equal parts maturity. The camera work was highly detailed and when the pad being shown without any inhibitions was what made this film relevant and progressive.

When Snehas eyed gleamed with her dreams of working in the Delhi police, it filled me with such immense joy to know that dreams and hopes can exist even in the darkest of places and how we can always find a way to overcome and grow. How we can always unlearn what we have learnt.

Rayke Zehtbachi strikes a chord as she stunningly captures the stories of these little girls and women who learn to rise above their realities and who decide to give someone and something a chance.Period.End of sentence is a cinematic delight and is engaging and powerful at the same time.