A documentary by Jürg Neuenschwander, in collaboration with Razia Quadir, follows the ups and downs in Rasheda's life. The film, made with support of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Swiss Federal Office of Culture, SWISSLOS and others, traces the changes in Rasheda's family between 1993 and 2005.

The documentary starts off with Rasheda and her family watching video clips of themselves from 1993. Rasheda, a destitute rural housewife was desperate to change her family's fate. The only source of income was Rasheda's husband Ali Akbar, working as a labourer.

When government officials came to the village and offered the first micro-credits, Rasheda saw her chance. With her first loan she bought 20 square meters of land and started a nursery. In the course of a decade, the family went from barely surviving to expanding the nursery and ensuring a better life for Rasheda's offspring -- five daughters and two sons.

The passage was not an easy one for the hard working entrepreneur though. Natural calamities like flood would ruin all saplings at Rasheda's nursery and no sapling means no business, no money; money that's needed to pay off the loan. Constant reminders and at times harsh suggestions like selling off their land, nag Rasheda and Ali. The mother is disappointed by Laili (Rasheda's oldest daughter) and Pyaru (Rasheda's son), who drop out from school. Village leaders who once helped the family are now not too keen on their progress. Obvious, even if subtle, discrimination a female entrepreneur faces in a male-dominated community, surfaces. But the resilient Rasheda does not budge. Because no flood, or drought, or ruthless extortionate rates of interest from moneylenders can break the indomitable spirit of a woman who has tasted success.

Cinematography by Pierre Mennel, Peter Hammann and Oliver Wills is commendable. Ingrid Städeli was in charge of sound engineering; Peter von Siebenthal had done the sound mixing. Editing by Regina Bärtschi and Eliane Schott could have been more precise though.

The 52-minute long documentary also includes an interview with Dr. Yunus.

The film was launched at Drik Gallery in Dhanmondi yesterday. Rokia Afzal Rahman, former adviser to the caretaker government of Bangladesh, was the chief guest at the event. Dr. Dora Rapold, the Swiss Ambassador; Razia Quadir, co-director of the film and Rasheda Begum were present at the programme.