10 Best Documentary Movies Of The Last Decade

A great documentary is one that goes deeper than what’s on the surface, and that is exactly what the underseen but critically lauded I Am Belmaya does.

Anchored around the life of budding filmmaker Belmaya Nepali (who co-directed this feature alongside Susan Carpenter), I Am Belmaya recounts the filmmaker’s journey from growing up as an orphan in poverty to training to become a documentary filmmaker. On one level the film is a classic underdog tale that reminds viewers that anything is possible with the right amount of passion and dedication. And witnessing Belmaya’s creative sparks fly when she has a camera in her hands is testimony to that.

However, this film is much more than watching the subject harnessing their skills. Alongside her training, the documentary likewise explores the filmmaker’s family life, highlighting the lack of agency and the sparce opportunities other women in her village have had. Now with a young daughter of her own, Belmaya is determined to break free of this vicious cycle and provide a solid future for her daughter.

I Am Belmaya is nothing short of an inspirational tale about an extraordinary individual. And by demolishing the barrier between filmmaker and subject, this film holds nothing back.