PRINCE OF THE HIMALAYAS World Cinema

Almost every country in the world at one time or another has displayed and defined its cultural identity by offering up its own interpretation of the plays of Shakespeare. Now that China has again become a global cultural force, especially in cinema, it’s not surprising that we’re starting to see Chinese Shakespeare on film.

Sherwood Hu sets the young Prince Lhamoklodan’s story in ancient Tibet under the shadow of the Himalayas. The results are lavish and exciting. (Hu discovered his lead actor, Purba Rgyal, a 21-year old aspiring Tibetan singer, while scouting locations. Purba has since gone on to win first place in HAO NAN ER, a Chinese version of AMERICAN IDOL.)

China’s culture is obsessed with patriarchal authority, and Hu chooses to give the ghost of Hamlet’s father an exceptionally important role to play in his update of the story. As grandiose as the landscapes and backgrounds of the film are, it remains first and foremost a family tragedy.