Himalaya (1999)

Purely Joyful Movie!

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

In order to get the DVD of Himalaya I have to order it from the USA - it's not available in the UK (presumably something to do with our imperialist past). I saw the film three or four years ago and some of the images still live with me. Immediately after seeing it I was enthusiastically recommending it to friends all of whom asked about the plot. It felt somehow inadequate to reply that it's a story about a dispute between two Tibetan yak-herders. All I know is that it's one of the few films I actively want to see again. Not necessarily because of the plot, which is serviceable, or even the acting, which is fresh and vibrant, but it's a wonderful feast for the eye with some of the most compelling images I have ever seen.

This film is simply beautiful to watch. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, the music and directorial mood is captivating. The film is light on plot and the little bit of intrigue sort of fades away, but that really doesn't matter. I have been to the Himalayas (Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan) and it is really hard to capture the exquisite beauty of the place and the grace of the Buddhist people who dwell there. This film captures that beauty and grace. If you have any interest in that part of the world and its people, this film will hold your attention and inspire your imagination. How? I don't know, perhaps some of that Himalayan magic rubbed off on the film crew.

This film may not be everyone's cup of tea but it is served in a gorgeous and delicate teacup. The story is simple, perhaps too simple. But it is drawn against the magnificent background of Nepal. Even bad photography would be good in that part of the world but the camera work in Himalaya is superb, sensitive and sweeping, richly textured and impressively framed. The most amazing aspect of this rare film is that none of the performers are actors! They play themselves flawlessly. The faces, frequently in harsh close up, are noble and full of character. Hollywood never could duplicate one silver haired old woman who is a living work of art. The children are beautiful and lack any self consciousness whatsoever in front of the camera. Utterly amazing! It's a movie for film freaks and those who appreciate fine photography. But somehow the world is a slightly better place because it was made!

The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world, and people living the hard life in the mountain villages are steeped in tradition, still living the way that their ancestors have for hundreds of years, surviving by collecting the abundant salt and trading it for grain and other necessary supplies for surviving the long winter. Himalaya focuses on the village of Dolpo in a troubled time; the village chief has died whilst on a salt caravan and the community allegiances are split, as the chief's father, Tinle, wishes old tradition to be upheld and for his grandson, Passang, to take the position of chief, the younger generation of the village wish to be lead by the arrogant and able Karma. The village salt caravan is split, with the older villagers following Tinle and traditional methods, and the younger following Karma and his youthful strength, Passang is torn between the love of his grandfather and the need for a father figure like Karma and through the following of the salt caravan we see their relationships developing and changing.Himalaya is entirely shot on location in Nepal, and although it seems that it's hard not to make a beautiful film in such an inspiring part of the planet, Himalaya is visually incredible, really giving a sense of enormity of the mountains and the rugged nature of the terrain and the people. One of the most memorable scenes of recent cinema takes place as the caravan travels along a tiny crumbling trail high above a lake, crisp, sharp textures and vibrant colours draw you in and give immense feeling to the scene, piqued by the sense of danger as they slowly work their way along.Excellent cinematography and direction, assisted by a great soundtrack, have lead to an essentially unmissable film, one of the best and most engaging movies about the region, truly an epic journey.It also features lots of hairy yaks, it's yak-tastic.