The Women of Two Cities – A Cross-Border Documentary of Resilience and Choice

The Women of Two Cities directed by Chee Yong Lim Yu Jia Chong.

The Women of Two Cities is a bilingual documentary that follows two women—Kim Yan from Singapore and Rabina from Nepal—who, despite the societal expectations placed upon them, carve their own paths with quiet strength and resilience. One is a retired nurse dedicating her later years to humanitarian work; the other, a young student defying gender and caste limitations to pursue education. Their lives unfold across vastly different worlds, yet both embody the courage to choose differently.

The film was born from a deep desire to tell stories that transcend borders and speak to our shared humanity. But the filmmaking journey itself was no less challenging than the stories we sought to tell. Our team, who hails from Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore), filmed across multiple countries—Singapore, Nepal, and India—navigating tight schedules, unpredictable weather, language barriers, and cultural sensitivities.

Following Kim Yan meant capturing both her peaceful retired life in Singapore and her physically demanding medical missions in rural India. Meanwhile, documenting Rabina’s story required our crew to travel deep into the countryside of Lumbini, Nepal, immersing ourselves in her world of hard work, determination, and hope.

Coordinating shoots across such distances during uncertain times stretched our small team to its limits. From research and on-the-ground planning to interviews, translation, editing, and post- production, the entire process took over a year to complete. But through every hurdle, we were reminded of the very theme of our film—perseverance in the face of obstacles, and the power of choosing purpose over limitation.