Balloon

Amidst tranquillity and melancholy, a touch of playfulness prompted by balloons becomes an evocative thread that runs through this intimate family drama themed on birth-control. A sudden death, an unwanted pregnancy and the belief in reincarnation trigger a series of events that compels a Tibetan woman to face her life’s choices. Returning to the 1980s for this magic-realistic story, Pema Tseden quietly observes the emotional and sexual dynamics of family life on the Tibetan plateau, as he continues to critically explore the clash between spiritual faith and pragmatism in a fascinating, transcendental fashion.

Tokyo FILMeX: Grand Prize

Shanghai International Film Festival: Best Director and Best Screenplay