The last film Pema Tseden finished before his death at age 53 is an enthralling, semi-mystical fable about the deep spiritual connection between a snow leopard and a young Tibetan monk.
On the high Tibetan plateau of Madoi County in Qinghai province, a snow leopard (brought to life with superbly subtle CGI) has killed nine rams belonging to the young monk’s brother, Jinpa. Jinpa is almost uncontrollably furious and demands compensation; otherwise, he’ll slaughter the captive leopard. But these magnificent beasts are rare, protected animals. As a TV news crew arrives, local officials and the police try to mediate. A tense standoff ensues, during which tensions between state power, traditional ways of life, contemporary media, and migrating souls play out. Pema Tseden’s cinema expands to embrace digital effects and compassionate spiritual fantasy in ways that are both unsettling and deeply moving.
May 17: Intro by Compassionate Light curator Shelly Kraicer
Community Partner
Pema Tseden
Jinpa, Genden Phuntsok, Xiong Ziqi, Tseten Tashi
China
2023
In Tibetan and Mandarin with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Sunday May 25
Indigenous & Community Access
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Credits
Executive Producer
Nan Ji, Zhou Hao, Pema Tseden, Gong Yu
Producer
Wang Lei
Screenwriter
Pema Tseden
Cinematography
Matthias Delvaux
Editor
Jin Di
Original Music
Dukar Tserang
Art Director
Daktse Drundrup
Also in This Series
Tibetan director Pema Tseden became one of the most remarkable filmmakers of this century, revolutionizing the representation of Tibet and Tibetans and sharing his visions of authentic Tibetan life with the entire film-going world by reimagining how narrative cinematic fiction could operate within so-called “Chinese minority cinema”.
The Search
Shot in exquisite long takes, this brilliant film is a road movie wrapped around three love stories. A director and crew are looking for local cast to star in their film version of the classic Tibetan opera Prince Drime Kundun.
Snow Leopard
The last film Pema Tseden finished before his death at age 53 is an enthralling, semi-mystical fable about the deep spiritual connection between a young Tibetan priest and a snow leopard responsible for killing livestock belonging to the priest's brother.
Balloon
The young sons of virile Tibetan shepherd Dargye mistake their parents' condoms for balloons. Meanwhile Dargye is looking for a ram to impregnate his flock. Balloon is fascinated with ideas of potency, pregnancy, and the possibilities for female autonomy.
The Sacred Arrow
A romantic, gorgeously shot, widescreen modern fable, this is a marked departure from Pema Tseden's usual stye. Handsome Nyima and brooding Dradon are ace archers from rival villages who vie in an annual contest for the ultimate prize, the Sacred Arrow.