Jinpa

Film description

It is improbable to meet anybody on the colourless Tibetan plateau Kekexili, the largest and highest situated in the world. So this day is unusual for Jinpa, a solitary driver who conquers the harsh landscape in his truck filled with sounds of “O sole mio” played from a worn-out cassette tape. An eternal hippie in sunglasses always covering his eyes first accidentally kills a sheep and then offers a ride to a lonely wandering traveller. The reticent passenger's name is also Jinpa and before he gets off at the road fork, he reveals that he set off on his journey to kill a man. The driver cannot forget this declaration and decides to follow his mysterious namesake.

Produced by Wong Kar-wai, the film is yet another original triumph for the Tibetan Pema Tseden, whose "Tharlo" won a number of awards at world festivals (including the NETPAC award at the 10th Five Flavours). Built from picturesque frames composed poetically by Lu Songye, "Jinpa" is a mystical meditation on human fate, life and death, infused with soothing melancholy and gentle humour. The film, which features elements of road movie and western, won Best Screenplay award in the Orrizzonti section of Venice Film Festival, where it had its premiere.

Marcin Krasnowolski