Plot and Themes in “Himalaya” Film by Eric Valli

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Plot Summary
Description
Analysis
Conclusion

Introduction

The film Himalaya, directed by Eric Valli, was released in 1999. The film runs for more than 100 minutes. Some of the main characters in the film include Tinle (old chief), Lhakpa (Tinle’s son), Tserin (Tinle’s grandson), Lhakpa Tamshoe (wife to Lhakpa), Karma (Tinle’s rival), and Norbou (Tinle’s second son). Himalaya tells the story of a village leader leading his community in the search of a precious mineral (salt) during a harsh winter. The film uses wonderful cinematography that highlights the magnificence of the surroundings in the film. The camerawork employed, and the script, give a feeling of real-life events. The characters are well developed throughout the story as well. One of the most compelling things about the film is the close tie between leadership and community survival.

Plot Summary

The Tibetan community trades salt they harvest from the mountains for other necessities. The invasion of the Chinese, however, led to the fast depletion of the salt. Thus, not only did the invasion threaten the culture of the people, but also depleted their source of livelihood. The community’s biggest trade was with neighbors living in the plains. According to the film, much of the trade decisions were made by the chief. As the story evolves, the chief (Tinle) is portrayed as the most powerful person in the village. However, he is too old and decides to retire, paving way for his son, Lhakpa.

Lhakpa is, however, killed while executing leadership functions. Karma, the main rival of Tinle, delivers Lhakpa’s body to become chief himself. Karma’s claim of the chiefdom divides the village, with elders supporting Tinle, and the younger generations supporting Karma. To show who is more superior, both teams decide to harvest salt. Tinle’s more experienced team reaches the mountains first, and harvest the salt. However, in the end, it is Karma who has a majority of the population backing him, and he becomes chief.

Description

Himalaya is certainly a reminiscent film. The original version is in Chinese, but it has also been translated into English. The film captures Tibetan culture, which has since become extinct as a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. It also captures the determination of the young generation in Tibet to track their ancestral paths in an attempt to retain their unique culture but also modernize their ways. The film is shot in Dolpo Valley in Nepal. The Tibetan villagers fully depend on salt, which they harvest from the mountains. The first element that stands out in my mind when I think about the film is the artistic cinematography employed that allows the viewer to fully engage and interact with both the characters and the culture.

The film engages the viewer from the start. The camerawork not only captures the beauty of Dolpo Valley, but it also highlights it in its most natural form. In 1999, the Valley had already started depreciating due to poor environmental conservation. However, since the film is set in a much earlier time, the cinematography had to showcase a pure land. Additionally, the lighting used brings about the right ambiance for the movie. Being a cold place, the film is shot in low but very clear lighting. The viewer can understand the choices each character makes based on their changing environments. The film also aims at showing cinematography and the spirit of the exceptional people. The film has been well crafted to provide the details of the Tibetan way of life.

Analysis

In my opinion, the film artistically plays with light and the environment to create a great ambiance for the presentation of the Tibetan culture. The camerawork complements the script. Having said this, it is also important to appreciate the creative storyline, directorship, and production of the film. Despite being a 1999 film, the picture is very clear. The director used a lot of shadow aspects due to the region and the general environment. However, the use of the shadow aspect was calculated to also bring out the enhanced beauty of the Dolpo Valley. The director also relied heavily on natural lighting. Due to this, the colors used are very natural.

The narrative is supported by a clear main theme. The movie explains in detail the Tibetan culture and the impact of modernity on the culture. It is also important to note that the sound records are very clear, with appropriate track sounds used throughout the film. The supporting themes go hand-in-hand with the main theme of cultural conservation. For instance, the theme of age shows how younger generations devalue culture, paving way for technology, and a more open-minded approach to life.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the film Himalaya is a well-scripted, directed and produced the film. To fully bring out the unique culture of the Tibetans, the director relied on their interaction with nature. The film shows a struggle between generations – the elderly generation and the younger generation. Whereas the elderly generation understands the importance of their culture, they do not understand the changing times and how this affects the day-to-day life of the community. On the other hand, the younger generation is more open-minded but does not have the experience the older generation has, thus, despise their unique culture. Overall, I would recommend this film to the next person as it engages the viewer fully, giving an exciting and rich experience.

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Plot and Themes in “Himalaya” Film by Eric Valli

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