A tragic romance between a lesbian couple will be the first gay feature film in the 60-year history of Nepalese cinema. It also is the first time a French cinematographer, Sarah Cornu, has worked in a Nepali movie.

The movie, Snow Flowers, is directed by Parisian film-maker Subarna Thapa, and stars well known Nepalese actresses, Dia Maskey and Nisha Adhikari (R-L, below), in a story of two women in love but unable to come out and be together.

The lesbian love story at the core of the film has afforded Snow Flowers the nickname "Brokeback Everest," in the local media, as it’s 2012 spring film release approaches. There is doubt as “whether the public in the deeply-religious nation will accept the project,” the AFP reports.

"It's two individuals falling in love and facing all the controversy and restrictions, and mental, emotional and physical traumas of being a lesbian in Nepal," star Adhikari, who chopped off her long dark locks for the part, told AFP. "It's a simple love story with a lot of complications."

Adhikari, 25, believes the film sheds light on the turmoil, pressures, and depression that same-sex couples often experience in Nepal. Usually, LGBT characters are relegated to cartoonish, campy, comedic relief roles.

"The entire movie is based on the trauma, Adhikari summarizes. “What it is like not being able to come out and live your life because there are so many restrictions…”

The complex issue same-sex couples face will be on the big screen for the first time. For Sunil Pant, the country's only openly gay parliamentarian, the film could be a breakthrough for society as well as the small local cinema industry, according to AFP.

"Nepal has always been tolerant and we are now really ready to treat each other equally," he said. "It's also about freedom of expression and our right to be able to watch films about our lives and issues. I am excited and can't wait to see the film released in Nepal."

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