An enigmatic epic set on the vast, empty plains and treacherous mountains of Tibet, the visually enthralling Soul on a String is a combination of spiritual odyssey, revenge film, and redemption quest. Reluctant hero Tabei (Kimba), a former convict who turned his back on society as a wandering hunter, is sent by a High Lama on a quest to return a sacred stone to its place of origin in the mountains of Tibet. He is joined by a woman desperate to escape her lonely desert life, and a mute child with psychic powers, and is pursued by vengeance-fueled brothers, thugs after the stone, and a writer who wants to put Tabei's story to paper. Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yang directs from a screenplay that addresses Buddhist themes within a familiar quest drama that also features warrior action and mystical twists. It's overlong at 142 minutes and dissipates somewhat between the various stories presented, but the cinematography is gorgeous—with widescreen images of characters on huge open plains ringed by mountains—and the allegorical stories here take on mythic dimensions. Likely to appeal to viewers interested in Eastern themes and challenging, enigmatic stories, this is recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Soul on a String
Film Movement, 142 min., in Tibetan w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $24.99 Volume 33, Issue 1
Soul on a String
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