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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
If you need a movie to keep you awake with rapid-fire editing or a twisty plot, skip this. It’s a slow burn. But if you’ve ever wanted to just stare at a mountain for an hour while thinking about life, it hits the spot.
People who hate documentaries that take their time will definitely find this one boring. It’s not interested in explaining every single detail of history, and it doesn't try to be a flashy travel show.
There’s something about the way the film treats altitude that makes your lungs feel tight just watching it. The three-day drive to get to the base is brutal. It reminded me a bit of the dusty, unvarnished feeling you get in older, smaller films like The Lure of Crooning Water, where the environment is really the main character.
The pacing isn't exactly professional. Sometimes it hangs on a shot of a prayer flag flapping in the wind for a solid minute, and you just have to decide if you’re going to be annoyed or just let it wash over you. I chose the latter.
The film doesn't hide the grit. You see the frugal meals and the desperate conditions under the occupation. It feels like a diary entry from someone who was actually there, not a polished production from a studio. Some of the shots look a little shaky, like the camera operator was struggling to breathe as much as the pilgrims.
It gets weirdly quiet in the monasteries at night. You can almost hear the cold. It’s not a film that tries to convince you it’s profound; it just shows you the mountains and the people walking around them, and lets you figure out the rest. 🏔️
Is it perfect? No. It’s messy. Sometimes the narrative feels like it just stops because it ran out of film or patience. But there’s a strange sincerity here that’s hard to find in modern stuff.
It’s not for everyone. But it’s definitely for someone.
Year
1932
IMDb Rating
—
Editorial
Deciphering the legacy of transgressive cult cinema.
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