Himalaya (film)

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Himalaya
Directed by Eric Valli
Produced by Christophe Barratier,
Jacques Perrin
Written by Jean-Claude Guillebaud,
Eric Valli
Starring Thilen Lhondup,
Gurgon Kyap
Lhakpa Tsamchoe
Distributed by Kino International
Release date(s) 13 September 1999 (USA)
Running time 108 min
Language Tibetan, German
IMDb profile

Himalaya (Nepali: हिमालय), 1999, also known as Himalaya - l'enfance d'un chef and as Caravan, is a Nepalese movie directed by Eric Valli and was funded through France-based corporations. It was the first Nepalese film to be nominated in the Best Foreign Film category at the 72nd Academy Awards. It was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 72nd Academy Awards.

Himalaya is an epic adventure story set against the staggering backdrop of the Nepalese Himalayas. At an altitude of five thousand meters in the remote mountain province of Dolpo, Himalaya is the story of an ancient tribe who lead a caravan of yaks across the mountains, carrying salt from the high plateau down to the plains. It tells the classic tale of rivalry between an aging chieftain and the young daring herdsman challenging his leadership and the affections of his family.

The film is a sort of western - a Tibetan western - a universal and timeless saga of power, pride and love. The extreme environment of the Himalayas is magnificently contrasted to the delicacy of humanity and the beauty of Tibetan culture.

Himalaya was shot in stunning widescreen over nine months on location in a region that can only be reached on foot, with all characters played by real chiefs, lamas and local villagers. Director Eric Valli has lived in Nepal since 1983, and is also a photographer and author, his work regularly published in National Geographic, GEO and Life magazines.

The film depicts not only the life style of the Dolpo people on the Tibetan Plateau but also their traditional customs, for example celestial burial. French musician Bruno's melodies with Tibetan characters cast a mist on the pictures of the mystical vast plateau in the film.

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