Die Salzmänner von Tibet (1997)

In Tibet's Changtang region, nomads harvest salt to buy barley. A clan prepares four of its men for an annual trek to Lake Tsento, where they rake salt from shoals into piles, then into ... See full summary »

Director:

Ulrike Koch

Writer:

Ulrike Koch

Stars:

Margen, Pargen, Zopon

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Margen	...	Old Mother
Pargen	...	Old Father
Zopon	...	Lord of the Animals
Bopsa	...	Novice

Storyline

In Tibet's Changtang region, nomads harvest salt to buy barley. A clan prepares four of its men for an annual trek to Lake Tsento, where they rake salt from shoals into piles, then into bags, and onto their yaks to return, 90-days in all. After picking an auspicious day to depart, they feast, sing, tell stories, and race horses. Women are forbidden on this sacred trip. All is ritualized: Margen cooks, Pargen prepares burnt offerings and distributes meat, Zopon cares for the caravan of 160 yaks, Bopsa bends his strong back to arduous work. To each other they speak the secret language of saltmen; they pray and observe exemplary behavior. The goddess of the lake smiles upon them.

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Plot Keywords:

salt | nomad | tibet | f rated | mythological | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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User Reviews

a real Tibetan tribe

"THE SALTMEN OF TIBET" is a spiritual film about Tibetan tribe. About Tibetan culture, I'm a person who had no knowledge. Therefore, it is tremendously interesting, and deep shocking to face them; a nomadic tribe who are naturally faithful to legends, rules that's living for as long as 2,000 years. On the other hand, the film indicates that modern trucks are gradually invading that sacred lake where the Tibetan get salt as their one of main commodities. This must be extremely confusing things for the tribe to see such monstrous industrial stuff. Nevertheless, while they accept their fate of the today's harsh trade, they take measures to it at their congregation, and devote into their eternal work which is to saw up completed colorful yak, in harmonious and friendly atmosphere, and such the attitude gives much deeper impression, and warns to be aware of their existence. Especially the last scene engraves their extreme intent true picture on my mind.

Details

Official Sites:

Swiss production's official site

Country:

Germany Switzerland

Language:

German Tibetan

Release Date:

22 July 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Saltmen of Tibet

Filming Locations:

Tibet, China

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,160, 26 July 1998

Gross USA:

$146,437

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), Catpics Coproductions, Duran Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Color:

Color