River(HKAFF 2016)

Cinematographer-turned-director Sonthar Gyal, who grew up amongst nomads on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai province, returns to the grasslands for the setting of his subtle, perceptive second feature. Shot over multiple seasons, River records the lives of a shepherd’s family from the perspective of the young daughter, Yangchan, who just longs to be loved and understood. Yangchan’s mother is pregnant with another child, but she doesn’t want a sibling. Meanwhile, her father is shunned by the other villagers because of his estranged relationship with her grandfather, a highly respected holy man. Her father’s unresolved conflict will bring important changes to the entire family