Travel writer and feature debutant Eric Valli is clearly in awe of the Dolpo region in the northern Himalayas, and respectfully empathises with the people who dwell there. But, while the stunning photography of this Oscar-nominated film (as Caravan) conveys this reverence, the physical hostility and visual splendour of the location aren't always enough to sustain interest. Sometimes it's just too slow, regardless of the culture being depicted.
Akin to a Nepalese Western, re-enacting a trek he's endured many times and taking each snowscape set-piece in his stride, Lhondup is a study in grizzled wisdom, and thoroughly merits this fondly poetic tribute.