Shambhala
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Film description
Pema lives in a village high in the Himalayas. When Tashi, one of her three husbands, disappears and the locals start whispering about her pregnancy, she decides to find him. She sets off on a long journey through snowy mountain landscapes to protect her good name and learn more about herself.
"Shambhala," the first film from Nepal to be selected for the Berlin festival, was shot in one of the highest settlements in the world. The monumental mountains surrounding it are one of the key characters in the story - silent, but constantly present. Filled with poetry but, at the same time, deeply rooted in the observations of everyday life, "Shambhala" portrays the customs and traditions of the Nepalese. It is also a profound spiritual experience, sparking reflection on the role of women in the traditional society.
"Shambhala" was presented during the 18th edition of the Five Flavours Film Festival, quickly winning the hearts of the festival audience. It now returns in the online Aftertastes section, which revisits titles significant to the festival’s history.
Min Bahadur Bham
Nepalese filmmaker Min Bahadur Bham (born 1984) holds master's degrees in Buddhist philosophy and political science, as well as a doctorate in anthropology. His short film “Bansulli” (2012) was the first Nepalese film to be screened at the Venice Film Festival. In 2013, he participated in the Berlinale Talent Campus and the Asian Film Academy. His feature debut, “The Black Hen” (2015), which won an award in Venice, was a box office success in Nepal and became an official Oscar nominee. His second feature film, “Shambhala,” made history as the first Nepalese film in the Berlinale competition section.
2012 Bansulli
2015 Kalo Pothi / The Black Hen
2019 A year of cold
2024 Shambhala
