As the first Nepali-language picture was released in 1951, and the first produced one in Nepal was released only in 1964, the cinema of this country is relatively young and remains rather unknown around the world. Fortunately, certain films from Nepal gain recognition at festivals, as “Shambhala”, the second feature by Min Bahadur Bham, shows. It is not only the first movie made there that was included in the main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, but it was also chosen as the official submission of Nepal for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
Shambhala is screening at Five Flavours
The story starts when a young woman, Pema (Thinley Lhamo), prepares for marriage with three husbands, according to, as the local Rinpoche (Loten Namling) stated, the tradition and her karma. Pema’s peaceful life with the new family is disturbed when her main spouse, Tashi (Tenzing Dalha), doesn’t come back from a trip to another town, because of the rumours about her alleged affair. Together with Tashi’s brother, Karma (Sonam Topden), Pema embarks on a journey through the Himalayas to find her loved one and clear up the misunderstanding.
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Through Pema’s lengthy journey, the director shows the patriarchal Nepalese culture, in which women have to defend their honour against accusations. There is no presumption of innocence here. It is an expedition not only in the literal sense, but more importantly, a spiritual one, as Pema gets to know herself better, and the people around her. By avoiding easy answers and judgments, Bham skilfully creates tension, which makes the film not only visually beautiful, but also emotionally engaging.
Although the acting is solid across the board, the performance by Thinley Lhamo serves as the focal point of the whole narrative. She performs many roles – a lover, a mother, and a sister. Her determination and strong faith in the sense of undertaken actions constitute the foundation of the narrative that makes the viewer root for her.
With long takes and widescreen composition, the cinematography by Silver Bear winner for his work on “Harmony Lessons” (2013), Aziz Zhambakiev, enables reflective admiration of the landscape and life of the Nepali community. The beautifully presented Himalayas serve as an ever-present character in the story. Certain shots, especially the ones showing Pema as she walks alone against the background of the mountains, emphasize the fact that she is on her own. If only the society had been as silent as the snow-capped peaks, the whole situation would not have happened. Unfortunately, both entities are equally, although in different ways, unforgiving and unsupportive.
After his feature debut, “The Black Hen” (2015), which was awarded the Fedora Award at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, Min Bahadur Bham delivers another picture that received critical acclaim around the world. The word “Shambhala” refers to a spiritual kingdom in Buddhism, presented in the movie via joyful sepia-toned dream-like sequences. Therefore, the title perfectly reflects the calm and unhurried atmosphere of the film, which, at 150 minutes, provides plenty of time for contemplation, intimacy, drama, as well as presenting Nepali customs and beliefs. Despite being slow and extensive, it offers an enchanting essence, thereby the screening passes quicker than one might expect.
