Rating: 
Summary: Mano y mano at high altitude
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: This movie is timeless
Review: Stunning cimeatography, beautyfull people, timeless journey through the highest mountains on earth. This story could have taken place a thousand years ago, the traditions are enduring time. The music is also, spectacular, buy the soundtrack. Having traveled through Tibet, it was always amazing to me how people can survive in such a land. This film explains one of the ways. Truly awesome.
Rating:
Summary: go see it!
Review: tells you about a gentle people and remarkable way of life... not a hollywood movie ... I left theater feeling curious and grateful... strong plot, lovely actors, and the vista... my God, whatta a vista.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite
Review: The most beautiful film I have ever seen. Incredible framing, wonderful acting and filmmaking, universal story, breathtaking vistas, great soundtrack. Don't miss it! Can't wait until it is released on tape/DVD. I must have a copy whatever the price!
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad
Review: The problem of this movie is that after three months I just could not remember what the whole story really is. I've only got a general memory that this movie is not bad and quite watchable. I've only remember that people live in the Himalaya may not have seen or know what a tree looks like since the mountains are so high and so cold and the wind is so viciously blowing year around.... But this movie is quite good movie.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: The stupendous location of the most spectacular mountains on earth is the stage for "HIMALAYA" (Kino). Shown last year to great acclaim here at the Palm Springs International Film Festival (under another title), the story is about a tribal power struggle between a proud aging chief and a willful young challenger. The elder wants to wait for the proper date as set by the oracle and the young guy doesn't want to delay the start of the annual yak caravan salt trek and risk the threat of bad weather. This contest between men and mountain is as breathtakingly beautiful as any film that comes to mind. Perhaps even rivaling Terence Malnick's "Days of Heaven." There's a spiritual center to this extraordinary film that puts "A.I." to shame -- and at a fraction of the cost. Director Eric Valli, a National Geographic photographer, lives in Nepal. The amateur cast of high mountain Tibetans is refreshingly natural. The exotic soundtrack is by Bruno Coulais. This masterpiece deserves discovery. The images will shimmer in your dreams for days.
Rating:
Summary: Take the harder of two paths when given a choice.
Review: The title of this film is most appropriate. A major focus of the movie is the trip taken by two groups of Nepalese villagers over the Himalayan mountains to trade their salt for grain to help them survive the winter months. The first group is led by a vigorous young man, Karma, who is a candidate for chieftain of his tribe. He is opposed by the leader of the second group, Tinle, the current chieftain, who is now old, but still convinced he has the energy to make the difficult trip over the mountain. Tinle consults the gods for guidance and decides to delay the trip for ten days. Karma convinces half the tribe to follow him and he leaves several days early. Tinle drives his group hard to finally catch up with Karma on a distant mountain path where the climax of this adventure takes place. At least half of the film shows us Tinle and his group fighting the mountain and the snow to make it over the pass to their destination. The scenery is truly spectacular and this film is best seen at the movies or on the largest TV screen available. One reason we go to the movies is to take us to far away places that show us people and events completely unlike anything in our experience. Himalaya does just that. We marvel at the strength and determination of these people who live life without any of the comforts of modern civilization. How happy and content they are is uncertain because we see them fighting to survive against seemingly overwhelming odds, at least overwhelming to any of us brought up with all the comforts of home at our disposal. Himalaya shows us that human beings can be incredibly strong and adaptive and the film encourages us to always take the harder of the two paths that are presented to us.
Rating:
Summary: Take the harder of two paths when given a choice.
Review: The title of this film is most appropriate. A major focus of the movie is the trip taken by two groups of Nepalese villagers over the Himalayan mountains to trade their salt for grain to help them survive the winter months. The first group is led by a vigorous young man, Karma, who is a candidate for chieftain of his tribe. He is opposed by the leader of the second group, Tinle, the current chieftain, who is now old, but still convinced he has the energy to make the difficult trip over the mountain. Tinle consults the gods for guidance and decides to delay the trip for ten days. Karma convinces half the tribe to follow him and he leaves several days early. Tinle drives his group hard to finally catch up with Karma on a distant mountain path where the climax of this adventure takes place. At least half of the film shows us Tinle and his group fighting the mountain and the snow to make it over the pass to their destination. The scenery is truly spectacular and this film is best seen at the movies or on the largest TV screen available. One reason we go to the movies is to take us to far away places that show us people and events completely unlike anything in our experience. Himalaya does just that. We marvel at the strength and determination of these people who live life without any of the comforts of modern civilization. How happy and content they are is uncertain because we see them fighting to survive against seemingly overwhelming odds, at least overwhelming to any of us brought up with all the comforts of home at our disposal. Himalaya shows us that human beings can be incredibly strong and adaptive and the film encourages us to always take the harder of the two paths that are presented to us.
Rating:
Summary: Himalaya
Review: The visual and musical experience of unparalel beauty, for students of Buddhism and everyone else who loves great Cinema, and the images 'speaking directly to the soul'.
Rating:
Summary: A SPELLBINDING AND MAGNIFICENT FILM...
Review: This film has some of most breathtaking scenery ever filmed. Shot high up in a remote area of the Himalayas that has seen very few foreigners, it focuses on the Tibetan people who live in an area of the mountains called Dolpo. These people are referred to as Dolpopas. The love that the director, Eric Valli, has for this region of the world is palpable with the loving care and attention to detail that is lavished on this production. Shot at heights of up to 17,400 feet, this film is a tremendous achievement both cinematically and historically, as it locks in time a little known culture and way of life. The story, which is based upon real life events, details a generational struggle between the young and the old. The storyline is simple. This isolated village is dependent upon trading its salt for grain, so that the village may survive. To do so, a caravan of yaks must make an arduous trek through the Himalayan Mountains to Nepal to effect such a trade. When one such caravan returns to the village, the caravan chief, is dead and his body has been brought back to the village by his best friend, Karma. The dead chief's father and tribal council memeber, Tinle, crazed with grief, suspects Karma of having brought about his son's death in an attempt to take his place as chief of the caravan. His dead son has left behind a beautiful wife, Pema, whom Karma covets, and a young son, whom Tinle wants designated as chief, despite his youth. This sets into play a power struggle between Tinle and Karma, both of whom are headstrong and wilful. After the traditional sky burial for the dead caravan chief, this clash of wills results in two seperate caravans setting out on the salt trading trek. One is led by Karma who, accompanied by the village youth, defiantly leads his caravan out of the village before the date designated by the village lamas. The other is led by Tinle, who has persuaded his other son, Norbou, a Buddhist monk, to assist him. Accompanied by Norbou the elders of his village, as well as by his dead son's widow and young son, Tinle follows tradition and leaves on the date that the lamas have designated as being most propitious for the difficult journey. The film details each of the respective journeys, as well as the continuing battle of wills between the two leaders. The risks that Tinle takes on the journey in order to to catch up with Karma is captured in all its starkly beautiful, cinematic majesty and will leave viewers sitting on the edge of their seats. Set against a breathtaking backdrop of Himalayan beauty, this is a must see film. The performances by those in lead roles are compelling. Thilen Lhondup, a real life former yak man who had fled Tibet during its invasion by China, is charismatic and powerful as Tinle. Gurgon Kyap imbues the role of the headstrong Karma with a youthful vigor and machismo. Lhakpa Tsamchoe, an exotic beauty who hails from Southern India by way of Tibetan parents, is wonderfully serene in the role of Pema. Karma Wangel is absolutely adorable as Tinle's grandson and will steal the viewers' hearts. Anthropologically rich and visually beautiful, it took the director nine months to film this movie. The daunting logistics, the unpredictable weather, and the use of mostly non actors contributed to this being a time consuming project. In order to mainatain as much authenticity as possible, this film was shot entirely on location and the villagers even wore their own clothing in the film. The director's care and effort paid off, however, as this is one of the most stunningly beautiful films ever made. The musical score by Bruno Coulais is haunting, capturing the soaring majesty of the region, as well as some of its mystique. It also offers what I believe to be Tibetan throat singing, a somewhat esoteric form of singing/chanting not often heard in the western world. This film, which was first released under the title "Caravan", was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2000. I believe that it lost to Pedro Almodovar's film, "About My Mother", which is also an excellent movie. Having seen both films, however, there is no doubt in my mind that Valli's film should have been the one to walk away with the Academy Award. The DVD is first rate, providing crystal clear visuals and audio. It is a value laden DVD, loaded with a number of interesting features. It offers a terrific director's commentary, as well as a delightful and informative featurette by Debra Kellner on the making of the film. There is also another interesting featurette, entitled "Electronic Press Kit", that contains some intriguing film clips and montages as to how certain things were done on the film, given the daunting logistics. This is a must have DVD for those who are interested in other cultures, the Himalayas, and, quite simply, a great film. Bravo!
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