The Story of Rigzang

Full transcript

Rigzang was a kind and hardworking young girl who lived with her family in a traditional Bhutanese village. When she was still young, her father passed away, and her mother, who had difficulty seeing, was left to care for the family alone. Rigzang gave up school to look after her mother and manage the household. As Rigzang grew older, her mother became worried about her daughter's future and encouraged her to get married. Rigzang married a man named Sonam, and at first their life together was peaceful and happy. Sonam cared for Rigzang and they lived contentedly in their village home. However, Sonam gradually became very jealous and suspicious. He did not like Rigzang talking to other people, and even a normal conversation would cause him to question her with anger. His jealousy slowly began to darken their once peaceful home and made Rigzang feel afraid and uncertain. One day, Rigzang's mother became seriously ill and a doctor, someone who knew the family well, came to examine her and provide medicine. When Sonam saw the doctor helping Rigzang and her mother, he completely misunderstood the situation and grew deeply angry, refusing to believe Rigzang's honest explanation. Later, when Rigzang took her mother to the clinic for further treatment, Sonam's anger grew even stronger. When she returned home, he confronted her with violence instead of trust. Rigzang was deeply hurt and frightened, yet even through her own pain she continued to worry about her sick and helpless mother. Although Rigzang's mother could not see, she could hear everything that had happened to her daughter. Overwhelmed with grief and unable to bear her daughter's suffering, the elderly woman suddenly suffered a heart attack and died. Rigzang knelt beside her mother, weeping quietly as the camera slowly pulled back to show the still and sorrowful Bhutanese village.