kazakh filmmaker Reclaims Women’s Stories from the Shadow of Nuclear testing in “Jara“
tokyo, Japan – October 10, 2025 - A powerful new documentary is giving voice to the often-silenced experiences of women impacted by decades of Soviet nuclear testing in Kazakhstan. “Jara – Radioactive Patriarchy: Women of Qazaqstan,” directed by Kazakh filmmaker and human rights advocate Aigerim Seitenova, premiered this week at the Toda Peace Memorial Hall in Tokyo, leaving audiences deeply moved and prompting renewed calls for nuclear disarmament.
The screening, co-organized by the Kazakh Nuclear Frontline Coalition (ASQAQQNFC), the Soka Gakkai Peace Committee, and Peace Boat, with support from the Japan NGO Network for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (JANA), took place in a venue steeped in history. The Toda Peace Memorial hall is named for Josei Toda, the second president of Soka Gakkai, whose landmark 1957 declaration calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons remains a cornerstone of the global peace movement.
Image of Toda Peace Memorial Hall
Seitenova’s 31-minute film shifts the focus from the widely documented physical devastation of the Semipalatinsk Test Site – where 456 nuclear weapons were detonated between 1949 and 1989 – to the often-invisible, intergenerational trauma experienced by women in the region. Jara,meaning “wound” in Kazakh,explores the stigma,psychological scars,and the agonizing fear of passing on inherited health risks to future generations.
“This film was made to make visible the voices of women who have lived in silence. They are not victims-they are storytellers and changemakers,” Seitenova explained to a captivated audience of diplomats, journalists, students, and peace activists. “Most films show Semey as ‘the most nuked place on Earth.’ I wanted to show resilience rather of fear-to reclaim our story in our own voice.”
Image of semipalatinsk Former Nuclear Weapon Test site
The documentary’s power lies in its intimate portrayal of women sharing their personal experiences, breaking decades of silence surrounding the lasting impacts of nuclear testing. Seitenova’s own journey to filmmaking was sparked by a personal experience of humiliation, a story she shares in the film, highlighting the pervasive societal impacts of the testing.
“Jara – Radioactive patriarchy: Women of qazaqstan” is more than just a film; it’s a testament to the strength and resilience of a community demanding to be heard,and a potent reminder of the human cost of nuclear weapons.it serves as a crucial contribution to the ongoing global conversation about nuclear disarmament and the urgent need to address the long-term consequences of past testing.
[Watch the film Teaser](Link to Teaser - Placeholder)
Keywords: Kazakhstan, Nuclear Testing, Semipalatinsk, Aigerim Seitenova, Jara, Women, Human Rights, Nuclear Disarmament, Peace, Documentary, Trauma, intergenerational Trauma, Soviet Union, Japan, Toda Peace Memorial Hall, S
