Himalaya: L'Enfance D'Un Chef [1999] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Customer Reviews:

Stunning Visuals! Equally Powerful Story ..........2006-05-13

It is the outstanding cinematography of the Himalaya Mountains which creates the most profound effect on the viewer ... but equally powerful is the story of how the people in this Dolpo village make a long arduous trek via caravan to trade salt for grain. It is how they sustain their lives in the starkly naked mountain village where they reside. The dangers of this journey are all too real ... yet the people in the village courageously embark on the journey ... knowing the risks and the hardships ... battlng the elements and ultimately facing nature herself, learning to work with her forces to ensure their own survival.

The chief elder Tinle learns of the death of his son after the return of a caravan from such a journey ... He becomes despondent and accuses one of the young men of failing to protect his son from death during the journey. Although other men who were there told Tinle that Karma the caravan leader had done all he could to save his son, Lhaka and had even placed himself in danger to bring back his body, Tinle is not convinced. The preparation for another journey begins but Karma and Tinle disagree on the timing of the journey. Karma convinces a group of young men to embark early due to avoid possible snow storms. Based on past experience and the advice he sought from the Buddhist monks, Tinle leaves four days later ...

The most emotionally satisfying and beautiful aspects of this story revolve around relationships, one being how Tinle and Karma each grow as human beings when they lead a band of men, women, and children on this arduous but life-sustaining journey through steep mountain trails with deep gorges below them. Another is the fascinating story of why Tinle sent his other son to a monastery to become a Buddhist monk and how their father and son relationship comes full circle. The reason the son chooses to join his father's caravan is heart-warming, despite his not having been prepared for this particular lifestyle. The attraction between Karma and Pema, the widowed wife of Lhaka, is one more "story within a story" that is explored. Also moving is how Lhaka's young son helps resolve some issues surrounding power/leadership that is earned ... and power that is given to a person based on birth and status.

When the caravans leave the village, the weather is balmy ... the grass is green, they even set-up tents for an overnight rest. Eventually each leader, Karma the younger one, and Tinle, the elder village chief, encounter challenges as they prepare for the coming snow storm which is inevitable. Before the film ends, they each develop a strong bond and respect for the courage displayed by the other ... The ending of this story is very satisfying and emotionally moving. This film has a profound impact on the viewer because it deals with universal human emotions, family relationships, survival of individuals after the losses associated with death and the indomitable human spirit that overcomes adversity - all within a remote, visually stunning and beautiful part of the world. This is a very deep and spiritually moving film.
Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)

Mano y mano at high altitude.......2006-03-03

So, how is dominance determined between two males? If they're running for political office, they grovel for votes - then take the final count to court. If they're prizefighters, they bash it out in the ring, with or without biting off ears. In HIMALAYA, each of two contenders races a caravan of yaks over treacherous mountains. Aren't men silly!

As the film begins in a remote section of Nepal, the body of village chief Lhapka is brought back to town after he died in a mountain accident. His father and former chief, Tinle (Thilen Lhondup), immediately charges his son's friend Karma (Gurgon Kyap) with being instrumental in the death so that he might assume the chieftanship. Now, it wasn't completely clear to me how the village leader was selected, except that an essential qualification was the ability to guide a yak caravan loaded with salt over the mountains to a market where the mineral is traded for the grain on which the village survives. Otherwise, the chief's position was perhaps hereditary, but confirmed by popular consensus. In any case, the question of who'll lead the next caravan is now at issue. Tinle is thought to be too old, though he vehemently disagrees, and his second son, Norbou (Karma Tensing), is a meek monk who only knows how to paint and pray. Lhapka's son, Tsering (Karma Wangiel), is but a seven year-old boy. Meanwhile, the village seers consult the gods and decree the caravan should leave in 10 days. Karma, somewhat of a hothead, convinces the village's young bucks to follow him with their yaks four days early to avoid the inevitable snow storm. Tinle follows with the old codgers (and their old yaks) on the appointed day. Tinle's group is accompanied by Norbou, Tsering and the latter's mother, Pema (Lhakpa Tsamchoe). Stubborness and macho pride cause Tinle to flog his caravan to a fast pace along a perilous route such that it can catch up with Karma's before both reach a crucial mountain pass.

The best thing about HIMALAYA is the scenery, and the bigger the viewing screen the better. With bright eyes flashing out of a dusky face, the next best is the exotic beauty of Pema. Otherwise, I'm not sure why the producers went to the trouble. This isn't so much a bad film as one just too long and unnecessary. No truth about the posturing to achieve dominance is illustrated that can't be observed by any conscious individual on a daily basis in national, office, peer group, or family politics. Perhaps the value of HIMALAYA is that it reduces the stage to one of stark simplicity, and clearly makes the point that the shifting alliances (Pema, Tsering) or wise advice (Norbou) of third parties sometimes renders the contest between adversaries to something no longer worth the effort. On a personal level, I was unsympathetic to the Tinle character whose leadership style seemed centered around shrill, indignant yelling. (No Shackleton or Churchill here.) So, whether it was to be good or bad Karma, I simply didn't care much from early on.

Oh, the yaks' shaggy coats were way cool.

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