THE STORY – An unlikely friendship between two Indigenous women, set against a dramatic decline in the snow leopard population. When local conservationist Tshiring Lhamu Lama learns about a snow leopard killing a family’s entire goat herd, she returns home to convince the family not to kill the animal in retaliation. The family’s young daughter, Tenzin Bhuti Gurung, accepts an offer to apprentice with Tshiring to escape an arranged marriage, and the pair travel together across the spectacular Himalayan landscape in search of the mysterious snow leopard. Can they find their own voice amidst centuries-old patriarchy, and save snow leopards despite a conservation industry failing to deliver change?
THE CAST – Tenzin Bhuti Gurung & Tshiring Lhamu Lama
THE TEAM – Ben Ayers & Andrew Lynch (Directors/Writers), Sonam Choekyi Lama (Director)
THE RUNNING TIME – 95 Minutes
Suffice it to say that a lot is going on in the world that can make you wildly gesticulate your arms to pretty much everything that is a means of concern. The state of politics and financial affairs always seem to take center stage, but the worsening conditions of the planet may be the most important threat that is looming these days. Even within this growing catastrophe, there are a wide variety of aspects that one can focus on, some appearing so niche that they deserve to be showcased. Yet, even within the smaller corners, there lies a greater commentary about the balance that humanity must strike with the natural world if both environments are meant to thrive in harmony. These are the issues at the center of “Snow Leopard Sisters.” Ultimately, this is a well-intentioned call to arms that also struggles to craft a compelling narrative while making its case.
In a small village located in Nepal, a crisis is brewing that is pitting the local residents against the region’s natural inhabitants. Snow leopards have begun encroaching on the territory of many herders, killing flocks of goats in a single night and wiping out their livelihoods. Many seek retaliation and kill these animals, which has been causing their dwindling population to plummet further. There is fear that these creatures may soon be on the verge of extinction. That is something Tshiring Lhamu Lama hopes to avoid. She has dedicated her life to conservationist causes and hopes to turn the tide in the pursuit of rescuing these animals. She travels to this remote area with her infant son to take one of the village’s young girls and train her in duties pertaining to spotting and protecting the animals. Young Tenzin sees this as an opportunity to not only obtain a vital skill but to forge a path for herself and not be shackled by the societal pressures to give up her dreams of higher education. Through their mutual bond, each grows to appreciate the dedication necessary to fulfill the great work they’ve set for themselves.
The filmmaking collective of Sonam Choekyi Lama, Ben Ayers, and Andrew Lynch clearly have an affection for not only these people at the heart of this story but also the world they are exploring. They capture the region with such wonder, basking in the sunlight that illuminates the dusty landscapes with an impressive glow. It underlines the natural beauty that can be observed in such areas of the globe and why its elements need safeguarding. In doing so, the storytelling presents an intriguing commentary of these two factions that are at odds. One doesn’t want to see harm come to these animals. Still, there is an understanding of the overwhelming frustration that these herders have, especially with a government that doesn’t seem keen to give them any assistance in times of turmoil. It is an inherently fascinating dichotomy that makes for some intriguing commentary.
The larger issue at hand, however, is that the film avoids many of the details that would give greater context to this discussion and deepen the urgency at hand. There are passing remarks about the government’s corruption without ever really saying exactly what specifically are the impediments to not give out assistance. When it comes time to dissect the personal lives of both Tshiring and Tenzin, both have details that inform some tragic circumstances to overcome without really learning why these moments become such a defining force. It’s especially felt with Tenzin, who has a host of tragedies that range from the death of a sibling to her father’s incarceration. The specifics of these events are not explained, and it establishes an opaque arc of growth for her that is not greatly motivated. There is a similar hardship in Tshiring’s backstory with her own father, an important figure in her own environmentalist journey. On the surface, these are easily identifiable elements to motivate characters, but the presentation is so glossy that it leaves much to be desired.
The relationship between these two is what’s really the driving force behind the film, and they have an endearing chemistry that is often engaging. On each side, there are macro and micro perspectives on this issue, where one is trying to tackle the large-scale problem while the other is looking for personal fulfillment through this vital work. As such, Tenzin ends up presenting a more engrossing storyline since her trial feels more grounded. While there are details missing to make her portrait even more captivating, the strife she must wrestle against is a strong foundation. She is insistent on not caving into the pressure to marry, given her family’s financial situation, and it is an alluring venture if a tad pedestrian. Unfortunately, Tshiring seems to only provide the larger picture of her activism, which may be important but ultimately does not make her a deep character to follow. Her knowledge is impressive, and the lessons on observing snow leopard behaviors are interesting, but there is little depth to understanding her on a deeper level beyond those mentions.
At some point, a sense of monotony starts to settle into “Snow Leopard Sisters,” and it’s the feeling that reveals a discouraging sentiment. While there has obviously been enough material here to assemble a feature film, it also appears that this story would have been far more effective as a short film. That is to say; its focus would have been much more concise, leaving those unanswered details to linger on the sidelines more successfully while working towards a more singular goal. There is an endpoint that’s being worked toward, with the pair wanting to see a snow leopard in person. But there’s far too much wading through tedious circumstances to become fully invested. The core issues are obviously important to platform, but the final results keep one at a distance. The goals are commendable without ever feeling deeply resonant.
