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- Issue #2: Expanded
In 2016 we visited the oldest monastery in the region of Zanskar; a two and a half thousand year old abode known as Phugtal Ghompa (sometimes spelt Phuktal). It was a second trip to Ladakh but the first time to enter such a remote region, which took us 24-hours via the developing roads that zigzag across the Himalayan region of this part of north India.
A boy monk slowly ascends the ancient mountain stone-carved steps to his room.
It was such an enchanting experience that I couldn’t stop dreaming of a way to shoot a film in the location, and returned two years later in 2018. After passes which exceeded 6,000 meters where oxygen is scarce, back to the monastery located at around 4,000 meters high after a final two and half hour brisk walk along the foot-carved dirt paths of the mountains (there are no roads at this point), we returned to beg to stay and film the life of the novice monks.
Tsultim tells us he spent his life savings on the construction of a road to help save his people.
As females, we are not permitted to enter the chambers let alone film ancient rituals, so we were extremely lucky that the monks agreed and we got to work documenting their ancient lifestyle.
Lobzang gives a talk to villagers who are located under a dried up glacier, soon to become exctinct.
As more revealed, we continued to seek out and interview different people and a fascinating story unfolded with key protagonists leading the way…one of which is not even a human (sshhhhh….we are giving too much away already!!!!)
Putting documentary together which has no ‘pre-agenda’ or defined path is never the easiest, but we can unequivocally say that we are forced to live in the moment which opens new avenues keeping things contemporary and which, we also believe, is the only way to live.
How about you guys, do you agree or would you prefer to do things with more ‘predictability’ when working on your documentary? And is documentary predictability even possible?!