If it seems to be a bit slow paced at first, with its long takes of daily routine, it’s for good reason: Nepal is a country with a way of life, a politics, and a culture that is utterly unfamiliar to most of the film’s viewers, and to move any faster would be to miss a great deal. The Kings of Nepal have traditionally relied on the goddesses as justification of their rule by divine right. In the midst of a Maoist insurgency against an autocratic King, the role of the living goddess has only come under greater scrutiny. Lengthy takes of protests and riots are interspersed with religious ritual and Sajani’s daily life. The filmmakers go to great lengths to point out that despite her status as a deity, Sajani is just a normal girl; she loves playing with toys, running around with her friends, and pestering her parents. Her life is extraordinary and rather mundane at the same time, and the film draws you in through the travails of its charming main character.

Nepal recently abolished its monarchy and became a republic, so it is possible that this tradition may die out as politics and religion begin to disentangle. Living Goddess is an informative and thoughtful portrait of an unusual element in Hinduism, a faith already alien to most Westerners. The film has stunning visuals, making full use of the colorful traditions and natural beauty of Nepal. By taking a look at an unorthodox part of Hindu South Asian culture, Living Goddess examines the conflict between tradition and modernity, religion and politics.