SNOW LEOPARD

Director: Pema Tseden. 109 minutes. China. 2023. Languages: Tibetan, Mandarin. Colour and B&W

Official Selection, Out of Competition, Venice International Film festival; Centrepieces, Toronto International Film Festival; Winner Grand Prix, Tokyo Film Festival 2023

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Snow Leopard written and directed by late Tibetan writer/filmmaker Pema Tseden (1969–2023) (Jinpa, EAFFI 2021), was completed just weeks before his sudden death last year. He leaves us a beautiful, magical tale told in two parts, a surreal venture in the distant past, and a realistic present-day account. In the village of Drigar on the Tibetan plateau, a snow leopard has jumped into herder Jinpa's sheep pen, killing nine rams. Jinpa insists the government provide financial compensation or he will kill the leopard, a protected species. The tense situation creates a storm in the community, Jinpa’s father arguing with Jinpa to release the snow leopard, Jinpa’s brother, a young monk known as ‘Snow Leopard Lama’, local TV crew, government officials and the police! It’s a story about unparalleled compassion, solicitude and love told through the stunning immersive photography of cinematographer Matthias Delvaux.

(Marie-Pierre Richard)