20/27
This film is able to evoke emotions in the audience through visual elements alone
Synopsis
In a Himalayan polyandry village, a pregnant PEMA is put under scrutiny when her husband disappears. With her monk brother-in-law, her de facto husband, she searches for him in the wild and discovers her own self-discovery along the way. Nepal’s official submission to the 'Best International Feature Film' category of the 97th Academy Awards in 2025. Rarely does a film come along that manages to capture the human condition through a regional story.
The visual storytelling is captivating
You don’t even have to understand the language or read the subtitles. Plot Summary: The story follows our main character Pema who is married to 3 brothers at the start of the movie. The first thought that occurs to anyone from a privileged background might be “how primitive”. But as you watch, you might realize why that is.
Characters: Awesome characters with motivations and flaws
The film follows her life in this village with the great Himalayas in the background. Their daily happenings and how ignorance affects their lives. I feel that it also captures the true essence of Eastern Dharma belief as I have never seen it before. The performance of the main character is so captivating that I was engrossed throughout the game and couldn’t look away.
Visuals: Everything everyone is talking about
Her character arc from an innocent, bright-eyed girl to a person of firm conviction and self-confidence is subtle and powerful. I really liked the use of colors. Now I want that yellow sweater. The shots of the environment juxtaposed with the characters were amazing.
Overall I enjoyed this movie
However, I was thinking of Lawrence in Arabia and this film could have used some wider shots of the snow and mountains to perhaps characterize the setting a bit more. It’s a slow burn, so be aware of that. You won’t find high-end drama or exciting plot twists here. What you find are human emotions and a journey within.