films about Ladakh

A document on the 2010 Ladakh cloudburs, floods, calamity, the relief actions and the "Live to Love" International Humanitarian Initiative activity after the catastrophe.

A short film on Karmapa's - one of the highiest rank monks of Tibet - to Ladakh. It is more about Tibet's political situation then on Ladakh.

A document on snow leopard of Hemis National Park in Ladakh. Interaction of the animal with the local villagers.

A short documentary on a project of teaching amchis (local, traditional doctors) conducted by Australian Himalayan Foundation.

Fantastic film on snow leopard in the wild. Includes shots of the female taking care on her son, and hunting. The story of searching the animal and a few months long attempts to film it. Beautiful scenery of Northern Pakistan.

As this documentary is over fifteen years old one could expect it to be out of date. Far from it! Still, luckily, the remote villages in many ways remain oases of tranquillity and harmony. Fast growing Leh, by the contrast, did not yet find the needed balance between the traditions and wisdom of ancient Ladakh, and all the aspects of modernity. It still seems to forget the first and draw into the ecological and sociological problems the letter brings. Still, tourists play a big role in changing Ladakh and the Ladakhis. Still, in many irresponsible and ignorant, visit the region and trek here without paying attention to the limitations of the local resources and disrespecting the Ladakhi customs.
Watching the film, seeing contrasts of the traditional life and disturbance of the modern, one could find it provocative and exaggerated. It is not. There is really a big gap between the harmony and wisdom of the ancient customs of the villages and the pollution, and social disturbance brought by the modern changes.
The film must be seen by anybody intending to go to Ladakh. It will make your visit more responsible and complete. It also, for sure, will give an interesting insight to anybody interested in ecology, globalization and the future of our planet, that anyone should be.