confusing mandarin version
Added 10/2/2008
i got a copy that was dubbed in mandarin with chinese subtitles. it was a bit difficult to follow.
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Real People, Rugged Place
Added 9/5/2007
The film, set in a remote Himalayan village in Nepal, is gorgeous start-to-finish, a labor of love by those who made it over a long period of time. The cinematography gets a lot of good "press," and rightfully so, but what I really enjoyed was the soundtrack. I expected the good visuals, and got them, but I didn't expect such wonderful music.
As for the look, it's different, with rugged barren mountain village terrain and snow-topped Himalayas in background. What's really different, however is the fact the film employed no professional actors. These were real people of that area! They are fascinating faces you won't soon forget.
As for the story, the treks don't begin until 45 minutes hav gone by in the film. You have to be patient. I's an adventure story that will reward you if you can hang with it that three-quarters of an hour. It also will make you grateful you weren't born in this part of the country.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Beautiful look at a fascinating culture
Added 12/21/2006
As filmcraft, this film could use tighter editing and more skillful camera work (not to mention a bigger budget) to make it a more viscerally involving experience. I did find the plot a tad simplistic and the subtext (=both the old and the new have their own place in harmony with each other, and are not separate from each other) rather pat and clumsily expressed. It helped that as a practicing Buddhist I already had a keen interest in this place and people, for someone wholly unfamiliar with this subject area this film might be on the slow side, with more of a documentary feel.
However, it is a very rare treat for Western audiences to gain exposure to the stunning natural beauty of Tibet and the fascinating culture of its people (also very beautiful) on film---especially a film entirely devoid of cheesy Western characters and storylines. That alone makes it worth watching.
4 1/2 stars!
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Stunning epic, but 30 bucks?
Added 11/10/2006
I have been an avid hiker and armchair mountaineer for a decade, and have read many accounts of Tibet and Nepal, so was jazzed to see some of the austere beauty. The story is wonderful, the scenery SPECTACULAR!, the acting very good. But with S&H, this costs $30--way too much. If it was Cliffhanger, Caddyshack, Butch Cassidy, etc. (the kind of movie you watch 4 or 5 times a year), I could understand the price. I will watch this movie perhaps another 3 times in my life, probably to introduce someone else to it. Great movie, but rent it if you can.
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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A story about life
Added 10/30/2006
This is a beautiful movie about life: about growing old and learning to let go; the conflict between the new and traditional beliefs; and the tension between the young and the old. It also demonstrates that true communication between people does not need many words. This human drama is set in a backdrop of the magnificent Himalayan mountains. The attention to detail in this film is amazing. I have watched it six times and discover something new every time.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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