HIMALAYAEUI SONYOAWA

Korea, 2008, 95 minutes, Colour.
Min- Sik Choi.
Directed by Soo- Il Jeon.

Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells, is a meditative film. Initially, a Korean executive goes from Seoul to the Himalayas to deliver the remains of a migrant worker to his family in Nepal. While there, he participates in their way of life, so different from the day-to-day existence in busy Korea. He learns to be quiet, reflect, share the experiences of the people. They are Buddhists and he shares in the ceremonials.

The audience, entering with the executive, experiences the long journey, the trudge into the mountains, the difficulties with the thin air. It also shares his curiosity, his attempts to understand the people, watch their customs, make phone calls at the central shop. At the end, the experience in Nepal is a transforming one for the executive. Audiences will find that they are observing perhaps more strongly than they are involved in the film – especially with its slow meditative pace.

1.The impact of the film for Koreans? Audiences with Buddhist background? Universal audiences – especially with an interest in Buddhism and the Himalayas?

2.The focus on the Himalayas, the location photography in Nepal? The climb up the mountains? The mountain peaks, snow? The beauty? The village, the homes? The shops – with the modern touches? The musical score? The contrast with the busy life in Korea, the ornate office buildings…?

3.The musical score, the chants, the background of Nepalese Buddhism?

4.The structure of the film, the introduction to the executive, his preparing to travel, delivering the remains of the worker? His travel? Scaling the mountains? Adjusting to the life?

5.The effect of the experience on the executive, watching, sharing? The simplicity of life, the religious rituals?

6.The characters in the village, the elders, the grief at the return of the remains? The elderly women? The mother, the children? The meals? The friendly child? The boys playing football? The ordinariness of life as well as its exotic touches for the outsider?

7.The Buddhist monks, their dress, their chant, the rituals?

8.The effect on the executive? The effect on the audience – and an experience of life in Nepal?