Raised in a sheltered village, young Lila yearns for a life devoted to Hindu worship, like that of her mother. But soon she begins to encounter worldly obstacles to her spiritual fulfillment. Guileless, Lila agrees to model for a lowly village boy who hopes to become a sculptor, but she soon attracts the attention of the village landlord’s son, as well as the ever-present gaze of the villagers, unknowingly endangering both of their lives. Khyentse Norbu follows up his internationally-awarded The Cup and Travellers and Magicians with this buoyant look at one young woman’s transition into adulthood. Accented by mesmerizing bursts of classical Indian dance, haunting vocals, and vivid Hindu fantasyscapes, the film stars Indian actress Shahana Goswami.
-Frederic Boyer
This film is co-presented by:
CAST & CREDITS
Directed by Khyentse Norbu
Bhutanese filmmaker Khyentse Norbu’s feature directorial debut, The Cup (1999), became an international sensation after its premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival’s prestigious Director’s Fortnight. It went on to win critical acclaim and awards at major festivals worldwide, including Sundance, Toronto, and Busan. Norbu’s second film, Travelers and Magicians (2003), premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and went on to the Toronto and Busan International Film Festivals.
Director
Khyentse Norbu
Screenwriter
Khyentse Norbu
Producer
Nanette Nelms
Editor
William Chang
Cinematographer
Bradford Young
Executive Producer
Elizabeth Cuthrell, David Urrutia, Jeremy Thomas, Suresh Jindal
