VELVET QUEEN, THE
[LA PANTHÈRE DES NEIGES]
Marie Amiguet makes an impressive feature documentary debut, embedding herself on a trek across the Tibetan high plateau as wildlife photographer Vincent Munier and writer/adventurer Sylvain Tesson ("The Consolations of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin on the Siberian Taiga") go in search of the elusive snow leopard. Often huddled behind a makeshift hide, the men pass the long hours waiting for a new sighting by discussing their lives in and out of the field, and what inspires them in their quest. During the moments that punctuate the men's waiting — hares, goats, eagles, bears and eventually, the rare snow leopard all make appearances — Amiguet's camera skillfully captures the men's joy, while Munier's camera captures the prized wildlife images. The resulting images leave viewers feeling transported right there alongside them in the moment of discovery. Both visually stunning and thought provoking, with an evocative score by Warren Ellis featuring vocals by Nick Cave, THE VELVET QUEEN is that rarest of nature documentaries: one that really is as much about the journey as the destination. Official Selection, 2021 Cannes Film Festival. DIR/SCR/PROD Marie Amiguet, Vincent Munier; SCR Sylvain Tesson. France, 2021, color, 94 min. In French with English subtitles. NOT RATED
No AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 94 Minutes
Opening Date: Friday, December 10, 2021
Genre: Documentary