Funded by
Shambhala
In the heart of the Nepalese Himalayas, the spirited Pema embraces a polyandrous marriage with Tashi and his two younger brothers. They initially lead a harmonious life, but when Tashi fails to return from a trading trip to Lhasa, the legitimacy of Pema’s unborn child is questioned by her community. Determined to prove her love and purity, she embarks on a quest to find Tashi. Accompanied by her brother-in-law, her now de facto spouse Karma, she goes into the wilderness. Karma is a monk. After initially resisting giving up his monastic life, he gradually comes to appreciate the simple existence of a secular life. However, urgent duties call him back to the monastery and Pema is left alone. As she navigates the harsh Himalayan terrain, her quest transcends the search for her missing husband. Pema becomes increasingly immersed in a spiritual search for meaning in which every step brings her closer to self-discovery and liberation.
World premiere at Berlinale 2024, Nepal Oscar entry for 2025
Nepal official submission for the 97th Academy Awards
Nepal / France / Norway / Hong Kong, China / Turkey / USA / Qatar 2024
Tibetan, Nepali
150
Crew
Director Min Bahadur Bham
Screenplay Min Bahadur Bham, Abinash Bikram Shah
Cinematography Aziz Zhambakiyev
Editing Liao Ching Sung, Kiran Shrestha
Music Nhyoo Bajracharya
Vocals Ani Choying Drolma
Sound Design Tu Duu Chih, Tu Tse Kang
Sound Dikesh Khadgi Shahi, Samrat Khanal
Production Design Ram Lal Khadka
Costumes Dorjee Dradhul Gurung
Casting Min Bahadur Bham
Assistant Directors Tsering Choden, Kiran Shrestha, Nipil Sharma
Producer Min Bahadur Bham
Executive Producers Debaki Rai, Ching-Sung Liao, Roger Huang, Ruben Thorkildsen, Can Aygor, Salina Shakya
Associate Producers Rajesh Prasad Khatri, Jeremy Chua, Lee Chi Lin
Co-Producers Catherine Dussart, Verona Meier, Shuk Fong Chong, Zeynep Koray, Justine O., Bibhakar Sunder Shakya
Co-Production CDP Paris
Ape&Bjørn Oslo
Aaru Production Hong Kong
ZK Films Istanbul
Yi Tiao Long Hu Bao Taipeh
Bangdel & Shakya Production Virginia
Trailer:
Min Bahadur Bham
Nepal
An award-winning filmmaker from Nepal, Min Bahadur Bham graduated in Filmmaking and literature. He has a master degree in Buddhist Philosophy and Political Science. His short film The Flute (2012) was the first Nepalese film presented at the Venice Film Festival. He was a participant of Berlinale Talent Campus 2013, Asian Film Academy 2013, awarded the Fellowship Fund. His directorial debut The Black Hen (2015) is the first feature film of Nepal presented in Venice Critics Week and awarded with Best Film. This film was huge box office success in Nepal and also an official entry from Nepal to Oscar for the category of Best Foreign Language Film 2016. He owns his production company, Shooney Films where he has produced short and feature films, which was screened at various film festivals around the world including, Busan, San Sebastian, Locarno, Tokyo, Seattle, and Montreal World. He is a President of the Independent Film Society of Nepal, and is an Associate Professor in Oscar College of Film Studies as well as Programing Director at Ekadeshma International Short Film Festival. Currently he is developing his second feature film, A Year of Cold.