High up on the Tibetan plateau, amongst remote and unexplored valleys, lies one of the wild world’s last sanctuaries. Vincent Munier, one of the most renowned wildlife photographers, takes the adventurer and novelist Sylvain Tesson with him on his latest mission. Together they try to find the extremely rare snow leopard. And Warren Ellis creates a perfectly atmospheric score to accompany this escape into the wilderness.
Mark says:
“We’ve all been entranced by wildlife documentaries, from Jacques Cousteau to David Attenborough, caught up in the real life drama as wild animals fight for survival. The Velvet Queen is very different. In the absence of action there is stillness. Instead of seeing the terrified Gazelle escaping the Lion, we become accustomed to studying the mountains and valleys for any sign of animal life. And the rhythm of their days is so unlike our own, how much are we missing? What do we not see? The Velvet Queen asks you to just sit and watch and wait and be amazed.
“This is more than just a nature documentary — it enters the realm of mysticism” – David Stratton, The Australian.
“In its quiet moments your senses will be on edge, exploring the breathtaking landscape, alert to what might be hiding there.” Jennie Kermode, Eye for film
“Gorgeous, humbling, a looking out, up and inward documentary, “The Velvet Queen” is the rare nature film about not only beauty and beasts but also the very human urge to make sense of our place in it all.” Robert Abele, LA Times.