News

After roaming for more than a year on the international festival circuit, “Jinpa” — the latest effort from Tibetan director Pema Tseden — has finally launched a limited run in U.S. art houses, where it might find an appreciative if occasionally perplexed audience for its idiosyncratic mix of deadpan wit and understated mysticism. The movie is by repeatedly hinting at a potential for melodramatic upheaval. Ultimately, however, Tseden finds an audaciously different way to pull the rug out from under us.

Set in the rugged territory of the Kekexili Plateau, an isolated Tibetan region with an average elevation of more than 16,000 meters, “Jinpa” begins by introducing us to its title character, a grizzled long-distance trucker (played by an actor whose name also is Jinpa), as he traverses a seemingly endless road across a spectacularly barren landscape. He appears genuinely upset by the prospect of bad karma when he accidentally rolls over,...

Pema Tseden was born in 1969. He started with short films before directing “The Silent Holy”, his debut feature-length film in 2005, the very first feature shot in Tibet with a Tibetan crew and Tibetan actors. His following 3 films got selected at international film festivals. As an author he both writes in Chinese and Tibetan. His books have been translated in several languages. Tharlo won the Golden Cyclo and the Inalco Grand Prize at Vesoul Iffac’s 22nd edition in 2016.

On the occasion of “Jinpa” screening at the 25th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas, where it won the Golden Rickshaw,the Critic’s Choice Award and a Special Mention by the Inalco Jury, we speak with him about the film and “Tharlo”, Kekexili, the ambiguous ending, rituals and traditions in Tibet, revenge, and many other topics.

“Jinpa” seems to be more accessible than your previous film, “Tharlo”. Why did you choose this approach?...