Ep 19. Summer Pasture

Summer Pasture is an emotionally powerful episode of Independent Lens season 13. This episode is the story of a young Tibetan couple, Locho and Yama, who leave their home in a remote herding village in the mountains of eastern Tibet for the summer grasslands. They take their infant daughter, Yidam, with them and drive their herd of sheep and yaks across the high plateau to set up their summer pasture in a remote valley.

Summer Pasture is a profoundly moving film that captures the struggles that are so often faced by traditional nomadic herders of the Tibetan Plateau. The documentary has been directed by Lynn True, Nelson Walker, and Tsering Perlo and has been produced by Tender Jaws LLC.

The documentary provides a rare glimpse into the daily lives of the Tibetan nomads and their reliance on the ecosystem. The remote high altitude pastures of this region are incredibly fragile, and the film shows how the herders must make difficult decisions as they balance the need to graze their animals with the need to protect the grasslands.

Throughout the episode, the filmmakers document the couple's daily lives, capturing moments of tenderness and joy, as well as the challenges they face. Locho and Yama's journey is not without its hardships, and they are forced to confront a variety of challenges that test the strength of their relationship, their parenting skills, and their commitment to their traditional way of life.

The couple must deal with the impact of climate change in the region, which has made it increasingly difficult for them to find enough grass and water for their animals. The filmmakers capture the herders struggling to find enough pasture and water for their livestock, as drought and increasingly erratic weather patterns threaten their way of life.

The theme of culture clash is also explored in the episode, as the couple's daughter, Yidam, begins to attend school in a nearby town. As she becomes more literate, she begins to question the traditional nomadic lifestyle that her parents and ancestors have been living for generations. The filmmakers capture the couple's struggle to balance their daughter's education and future with the preservation of their traditional way of life.

Throughout the episode, the filmmakers present stunning vistas of the Tibetan plateau, showcasing the beauty of the landscape that the nomadic herders call home. In addition, they weave together a profound and moving portrait of the daily struggles and joys of traditional nomadic life.

In conclusion, Summer Pasture is a deeply moving and thought-provoking episode of Independent Lens season 13 that highlights the struggles faced by traditional nomadic herders in the Tibetan Plateau. The episode is a testament to the resilience and courage of these communities, who continue to live by traditions that have been passed down through generations despite the many challenges they face.