Thin Ice

Ever since ice hockey was introduced into the northern Indian province of Ladakh, it has been a male preserve. Until Dolkar, a young Buddhist woman, decided to put together a woman’s team to participate in the national championships. Here is the stuff of unlikely underdog stories so beloved by Hollywood—except this is for real. Before she can put a stick on the ice, Dolkar must face the formidable challenges of getting through Himalayan passes to recruit players from the predominantly Muslim town of Kargil in the shadow of the Line of Control. The mullahs have no problem with the idea that Buddhists and Muslims are brothers, but need some convincing on women’s sporting attire. Because sport is so essentially trivial, it might just have the greatest potential to bring people together. Having reconciled differences of gender and religion, Dolkar and her teammates prepare to put the puck in the back of the net.

Fredrik Gertten is a Guest of the Festival

As a former ice hockey player I immediately fell in love with Dolkar and her friends, when I saw the pictures of them playing ice hockey. The landscape in Ladakh is fantastic. But the thing which struck me even more was the people living there. Everyone was singing while working and complaints did not exist..."

Håken Berthas