Himalaya

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Himalaya

2001

1h 50m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In a village in the North-Western Himalayas, Tinl, a charismatic old chieftain, whose eldest son has just died, refuses to allow the young Karma to lead the yak caravan. They both end up leading on two different routes. This is the story of their rivalry in the Himalayas.

Critics Consensus

Unlike the overproduced and overbudgeted Hollywood blockbusters, Himalaya is a stunningly photographed movie that offers an intimate look into the lives of a Dolpo tribe.

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Jennie Punter

Toronto Star

Aug 10, 2001

Himalaya is a film about choices, pride and forgiveness, filled with memorable characters and stunning scenery. And if you like yaks, this is the film for you.

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Jane Sumner

Dallas Morning News

Aug 9, 2001

High above the tree line, Tinle, Karma and Norbu act out a universal human drama with only two special effects -- a blinking star and a yak.

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Chris Fujiwara

Boston Globe

Jul 30, 2001

2.5/4

Valli's touch as an artist is too light, and his dramatic sense too timid, to make the film much more than a collection of pretty pictures.

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Film Threat

Dec 6, 2005

5/5

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 26, 2005

3/5

Vadim Rizov

Movie-Vault.com

Jun 19, 2003

5/10

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Chance G

@RT62567354 May 11, 2025

By design, we do not know who Karma is until minute 30. Pay attention. -J

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Oct 12, 2015

Beautiful film with beautiful music.

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Alex R

@AlexMVP Dec 13, 2014

I went into this movie assuming it was a documentary and was fine with that, but was then incredibly and very pleasantly surprised to find that it was a well-laid out story with tremendous authenticity. Great film that really seems to capture the lives of a traditional people in a very rugged landscape. Beautifully shot on location, which adds such value to the overall production.

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Apr 15, 2014

It is a privilege to travel with the people of Dolpo.

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Feb 20, 2014

A simple, elegant tale, beautifully shot.

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Jul 25, 2013

No big explosions, no CGI, no car crashes, in fact not a lot of action and more a simple story than a complex conflict. Enjoyed it a great deal, worth watching if you want to get some insights into people, who one (or at least I) had no contact with and almost no knowledge. Over the course of a few hours you get to know people who live in a very different environment but you learn to appreciate and enjoy visiting with. Beautifully shot, haunting score.

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Eric Valli

Director

Thilen Lhondup

Tinle

Gurgon Kyap

Karma

Lhakpa Tsamchoe

Pema

Karma Wangel

Pasang

Karma Tensing

Norbou

Kandahar

89%

75%

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Synopsis

In a village in the North-Western Himalayas, Tinl, a charismatic old chieftain, whose eldest son has just died, refuses to allow the young Karma to lead the yak caravan. They both end up leading on two different routes. This is the story of their rivalry in the Himalayas.

Director: Eric Valli
Producer: Christophe Barratier, Jacques Perrin
Screenwriter: Nathalie Azoulai, Olivier Dazat, Louis Gardel, Jean-Claude Guillebaud
Distributor: Kino Pictures
Production Co: National Studios, Inc., France 2 Cinema, Bac Films, Antelope Films, Les Productions de la Guéville, Galatee Films, Les Productions JMH
Genre: Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 30, 2001, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 31, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.5M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, DTS, Dolby SR

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