Period. End Of Sentence. (2018)

Rayka Zehtabchi’s Oscar-winning Period. End of Sentence is ultimately an appeal for change.

While hard to believe, the concept of menstruation in some parts of India is still considered taboo. In New Delhi, women of all ages have treated this natural piece of their femininity as something that must stay within them, clueless of how to manage it. The concept of sanitary pads is alien, here: considered a luxury far beyond the reach of most.

From the moment Zahtabchi mentioned the term “menstruation” to teenage girls during an interview, they respond with shy, uncertain laughter– as if they have accepted it as a form of a joke. To break this alarming stigma, a group of female natives agree to prepare low-cost, efficient pads to distribute to women in the community.

Period. End of Sentence, as its title suggests, is about the process of ending the cultural taboos surrounding menstruation. It’s a powerful documentary that creates a solution, rather than merely shed light on the problem.