Winter in western Nepal’s Dhorpatan valley brings freezing mist and barren rocky terrain as most residents migrate south. Two women, Ratima and Kalima, remain behind to watch over an abandoned village. Both are widows to the same man, creating a complicated bond that shifts between warmth and discord. Ratima, older and jaded, spends her days in alcohol and regret. Kalima, younger and more optimistic, treats animals kindly and uses pet names. She now cares for Ratima with sisterly tenderness. Their days include simple meals by the fire and shared memories of their husband, framed by wide shots of the desolate landscape. The cinematography is striking, but landscape emphasis sometimes reduces focus on their relationship, occasionally making the film feel like a nature documentary.
"There is much visual pleasure in the breathtaking cinematography, which observes the geographical contours of Dhorpatan in exquisite detail, from its frozen slumber to springtime awakening. Though the scenes are beautiful, the focus on the landscape at times distracts from a deeper exploration of Ratima and Kalima's relationship; their interactions are riveting, yet they are too infrequent. As a result, the film occasionally veers into a nature documentary, without the beating emotional heart it shows elsewhere."
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