Film: Himalaya

Theme: Human and Physical Geography

Central Question: How is the journey over the Himalayan mountains a life threatening journey for the people of Dolpo ?

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to explain why and how the people of Dolpo travel over the Himalayas to trade salt.

Motivation: Imagine that you had to trek over the Himalayan. What are various things that could threaten your life?

Plot Summary :

Himalaya, l'Enfance d'un Chef is a fictional film about the forgotten people of Tibet, focusing on their daily lives and traditional customs. In a remote village in the Dolpo in the northwestern Himalayas of Nepal, Tinle, a charismatic old chief, has just lost his eldest son. He refuses to allow his son's friend Karma,whom he holds responsible for his son's death, to lead a caravan of yaks. Karma defies the old man's anger and the shaman's advice and moves the caravan, with the help of other village youtha, before the date set by the ritual. On the day indicated by the gods, Tinle gets together the village elderly and sets out on the same journey with his second son and his grandson, who is destined to be the next chief. The ancestral struggle between the old man and the mountains begins all over again.

Activity: Students will watch the film and answer the comprhenension questions

1) What makes it difficult to travel to the village of Dolpo?

2) What does the grandfather Tinsle say about the size of the barley harvest and its ability to feed the town?

3) Why do the people of Dolpo need to trade salt for food?

4) What happens to Tinsle's son and what does this show about the dangers of the salt trade?

5) How has the death of Tinsle's son created a crisis in leadership in Dolpe?

6) How does Tinsle react to Karma becoming chief?

7) Where does Tinsle go to solve the crisis of leadership caused by his eldest son's death?

8) How does Karma defy tradition in his role of leader?

9) What does Tinsle do to show his leadership?

10) How does Tinsle risk the lives of his group?

11) How does Tinsle's ancient knowledge save his group from the Blizzard?

12) What does the film show about the nature of the Himalayan salt trade?

Assignment: in an essay explain how have the geographic features of Dolpo affected the activities and lifestyle of the people of Dolpo?