Cedric Cheung-Lau, 2019, 94min, USA

The Annapurna Mountains in Nepal set the stage for the quiet intersection of two travelers heading in different directions. Tukten, a young Nepali man, is on his way to Dubai for new opportunities when he meets Hannah, an elderly Australian woman trekking on her own. Their encounter ends up being the momentary interruption they both didn’t know they needed.

Cedric Cheung-Lau’s evocative debut feature is a quiet cinematic meditation. The sounding of bells signals the entry into another space—one best experienced by giving in to the sumptuous rhythms of the film. Light and sound are masterfully used to immerse viewers in the beauty of the landscape. Carefully composed and held scenes allow action to reveal itself, while light and darkness engulf the characters throughout their journeys of self-discovery. The mountains hold an inspirational presence, expansive and in the distance but a reassurance to them both. Cheung-Lau captures how a place can be shared and simultaneously awaken personal transcendent experiences.

Film in English and Nepali with English subtitles.