The Saltmen of Tibet
The Saltmen of Tibet
| 25 April 1997 (USA)
The Saltmen of Tibet Trailers

Four men from a nomadic Tibetan tribe undertake their annual, ritualistic pilgrimage to a sacred salt lake. Salt gathered in this traditional fashion will be sold to provide the economic livelihood of the tribe for the coming year. The journey, necessary for the group's survival, also incorporates a number of rituals necessary for their culture to survive in the modern world.

Reviews
Cubussoli

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

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Rijndri

Load of rubbish!!

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FeistyUpper

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

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Teringer

An Exercise In Nonsense

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davesf

For a modern Westerner, it is hard to imagine that people ever lived this way ... let alone, that some still do. This film reminds me a little of The Fast Runner (about the Inuits) in its foreignness and matter-of-fact superstition. This is probably like how most of our ancestors lived in medieval times.It's a real eye-opener about a commodity (salt) that we so take for granted. And also about how little of everything it is possible to get by on.The film moves slowly because the protagonists move slowly. Some of the dialogue is incredibly tedious and mundane, thus winds up being a defect or detraction. On the other hand, the photography is gorgeous, and truly remarkable is the trust and cooperation that the filmmakers received from the saltmen, who shared many of their usually well-hidden cultural secrets.All in all, well worth watching even if a bit over-long.

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Malchik81

I think Gerard's comments on the doc hit the nail on the head. Interesting film, but very long. It's definitely the antithesis to the new school of flashy, sexy, Moore-style docs. There is no narrator, no facts or side info interlaced, and no other gimmicks. What you see is what you get - a glimpse into the vanishing world of the Saltmen of Tibet. As a huge doc fan, I was surprised how much I lost attention with this film, namely due to the length and lack of dialogue. In the end though I would recommend it if the subject matter sounds interesting to you. It's beautifully shot, informative, and presents a valuable (and closing) window into the way of life of the Tibetan saltmen (and women :) - all important attributes of a good doc. But do put on a big pot of coffee, it'll help.

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GorPen

This is a beautifully filmed movie that questions the future of all indigenous peoples, especially nomadic tribesmen. Focusing on the Saltmen of Tibet, the film moves at pace that may make some western viewers uncomfortable. For some peoples, life still proceeds at the same pace which it has for thousands of years. This film follows a group of tribesmen on their annual two month quest to get salt. Their tribe lives its life in a traditional manner (slowly by modern standards) and always accounting to their many gods. This is a remarkable film, one which will preserve a piece of what may, unfortunately, become history. Well worth the time. Don't be in a rush when you see it.

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ImamuraY

"THE SALTMEN OF TIBET" is a spiritual film about Tibetan tribe. About Tibetan culture, I'm a person who had no knowledge. Therefore, it is tremendously interesting, and deep shocking to face them; a nomadic tribe who are naturally faithful to legends, rules that's living for as long as 2,000 years. On the other hand, the film indicates that modern trucks are gradually invading that sacred lake where the Tibetan get salt as their one of main commodities. This must be extremely confusing things for the tribe to see such monstrous industrial stuff. Nevertheless, while they accept their fate of the today's harsh trade, they take measures to it at their congregation, and devote into their eternal work which is to saw up completed colorful yak, in harmonious and friendly atmosphere, and such the attitude gives much deeper impression, and warns to be aware of their existence. Especially the last scene engraves their extreme intent true picture on my mind.

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