Der Pferdedieb (1986)
25KDer Pferdedieb: Directed by Zhuangzhuang Tian, Peicheng Pan. With Rigzin Tseshang, Jiji Dan, Daiba, Drashi. A Tibetan man struggles to provide for his family.
“I found out about this film via Mark Cousinu0026#39;s well regarded u0026quot;The Story of Film: an Odysseyu0026quot;, when he outlined some of the strongest features of the 80s.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe Horse Thief is a strikingly shot immersion into the unique, isolated and overwhelmingly spiritual culture of traditional Tibet, a country of snow laden plains and remote agrarian village life.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe nominal plot focuses on Norbu, a thief who is excommunicated from his tribe, to live in the harsh Tibetan hinterlands with this wife and child. Even his elders disdain him, and appear to show no sympathy for his crimes.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe tribe worships a local mountain deity for providence, but during an outbreak of disease many animals and family members suffer, some terminally. Norbuu0026#39;s family is allowed back into tribal society although his penalty is death, and there appears to be no alternative in the mid winter Tibetan snowfields.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe filmu0026#39;s plot is almost overshadowed by the cinematography and focus on Tibetan civilization; their religious rites, celebrations, trading and working life all feature throughout. Parts of the u0026quot;storyu0026quot; are presented as a dreamy montage of dancers, elemental images and Tibetan masks, with Buddhist themes of death and rebirth enacted by the cast, which is one of the exceptionally interesting things about the movie.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIts not really an epic film, and the actual scripted dialogue is pretty sparse, but worth seeing especially if you have a projector or similar large-screen display.”
