Prince of the Himalayas

With an increasingly globalised world comes the possibility for new cross-cultural influences and exchanges. Take, for instance, this version of Hamlet transplanted to the ancient Tibetan kingdom of Jiabo. The film can be situated in a couple of traditions. It works the vein of visually ravishing historical epics such as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero and House of Flying Daggers with stunning scenery, richly saturated colour, and lush costuming. Second, the appropriation of Shakespeare to provide a new take on Asian concerns reflects an important debt to Kurosawa in films like The Hidden Fortress and Ran. Setting Shakespeare's Prince of Denmark in a completely new context is richly suggestive of the play's enduring relevance for the modern world. As the proto-typical tale of oedipal anxiety, or of the terrifying possibilities of taking action in the social world, this film re-invents and refreshes a story we thought we knew.

The Golden Globe Jury has reportedly given the film high praise, saying "there are few Tibetan movies to compete and it is really stunning."

Xinhua