User Reviews

Driving with Selvi is a sensitive documentary about one Indian woman's fight over many years for dignity and happiness. Having been extremely badly treated in her early years, Selvi is lucky enough to find support and help at Odanadi in Mysore, and moves on to become the first woman taxi driver in South India. The story is largely told through Selvi's own words, elicited in subdued and sensitive interviews by the film maker. It also contains some great cinematography as Elisa Pasolchim the Director builds on her background as a photographer to bring us the colour and bustle of India with some striking images. Selvi's story is constructed over a long period of time and the complex layers of her family relationships are slowly revealed. Selvi's personal struggle also highlights in a very personalised way the very deep injustices which women in India face, and the work of the brave and pioneering people who support and coach her as she slowly finds her confidence, new skills and relationships which are much more positive than any in her early life.

This terrific long term documentary covers a few years in the life of a young woman in India. She's had a very rough go for her first 15 years but she's smart and determined. She can do anything she sets her mind to and she sets her sights high indeed. Ultimately we'll find out everything there is to know about her. It is a very well spent one hour and the documentarian is to be applauded for this excellent work.