Body of our Own: Exploring culture, dreams, and expression through the Hijra | BFI Flare 2026
Used correctly, cinema can be a powerful tool. It has the power to reach estranged audiences - those who lie outside of our algorithm and are in need of a fresh and empathetic perspective. Body of Our Own, a new short documentary, lends its hand in promoting culture globally, encouraging both education and acceptance.
This film follows three Hijra transgender women, Momo, Neshi, and Jannat, who each live unique lives yet are bound by their resilience and sense of self. It is shot intimately, allowing the three women to take the lead in discussing everyday lives, deepest aspirations, and everything in between. The Hijra community traditionally had a symbolic and cultural presence. They have long battled violence and exclusion with care and joy that comes through in both their lifestyles and performance. This short documentary marks an opening for a new style of film, where the ethics behind the camera are prioritised, and stories so often shunned are pulled into the spotlight.
The featured women are unique in their own right, all driven and inspired by their own passions. Momo is confident, empowered by performance, and finding joy in every available moment of self-expression. The film explores the shift from the hierarchical system that has always restricted the Hijra community to a world where they have more and more autonomy. Neshi has a more gentle story, highlighting the fundamental human desires for romance, motherhood, and connection; we see her attempt to find this online, aided by the globalisation of social media. Jannat strives for financial independence, working to secure a life that is dictated only by her, serving to expose the difficulties of being part of a marginalised community defined by a past.
This film is shot in such a way that it creates an intimate and wholesome atmosphere. While exploring moments of vulnerability, it captures the mundanity of their lives in a very pure way. There is a focus on the key elements of the collective human experience - handling heartbreak, family, dreams, and reality. This allows an audience to resonate with the women, each finding a connection in different ways. I loved the simplicity of the film - there are no flashy effects or dramatic cuts, just a tale of three women united by identity and the goal to find themselves independently of society's definition.
Body of Our Own is a beautifully innovative celebration of culture. This film has been a gradual process, and with seven years in the making, the genuine relationships formed come through in an excellent collaboration. I believe it raises questions for the Hijra community, encouraging an audience to both educate themselves and truly contextualise where this film sits in society. These stories need to be told, particularly in a time when trans legislation is increasingly under threat.
This film tastefully explores the light and dark of being a proud member of this society, and there is beauty in the sheer determination on and off camera.
