Ujvala Jupalli: Asterisk Athlete is an experimental documentary short of 9 minutes, directed, written and produced by Josephine Harrison in the United States. Made as a student project at Dartmouth College, it offers an intimate, meditative reflection on sporting experience and gender identity in athletics.
The documentary follows Ujvala Jupalli, the protagonist and narrator, who describes in the first person what it means to be an athlete and when she realised that she was not only an athlete, but a woman athlete. Through personal, introspective storytelling, the film alternates images of training and quiet moments, creating a sincere, contemplative portrait of the relationship between body, identity and sport.
The director adopts an essential visual language with a slow, reflective narrative rhythm, inviting the viewer to consider differences in the perception and representation of women in sport. Ujvala's experience becomes a universal symbol of commitment, self-determination and awareness, emphasising personal testimony as a means of expression and growth.
Completed on 5 May 2025, Ujvala Jupalli: Asterisk Athlete is an independent work shot in digital and presented in colour, combining documentary and visual-experimentation elements to explore the relationship between the individual and her athletic path.
Film Information
Title: Ujvala Jupalli: Asterisk Athlete
Original title: Ujvala Jupalli: Asterisk Athlete
Direction: Josephine Harrison
Production: Josephine Harrison
Country: United States
Language: English
Running time: 9 minutes
Genre: Documentary, Experimental
Sport featured: Athletics (women's sporting experience)
Main subject(s): Ujvala Jupalli
Completion date: 5 May 2025
Premiere: [Not stated]
Distributor: [Not stated]
Shooting format: Digital, 16:9, colour
Director's first film: No
Student project: Yes – Dartmouth College