Wednesday December 7
10am, 2:30pm, 5pm, 7:30pm
Directors Marie Amiguet, Vincent Munier
Documentary
French English subtitles
92 minutes
A magnificent ode to nature, a film that suspends time, set to the sublime music of Warren Ellis and Nick Cave.
The Velvet Queen explores the awe-inspiring landscapes of Tibet and the unpredictable journeys of its inhabitants. Wolves, bears, yaks, birds and the mythic snow leopard come to life on the big screen.
High up on the Tibetan plateau, lie untouched landscapes of unmatched beauty. Amongst unexplored and inaccessible valleys, filmmaker Marie Amiguet (La vallée des Loups) accompanies renowned nature photographer Vincent Munier and writer Sylvain Tesson on an adventure, in search of the snow leopard. For several weeks, they’ll explore these valleys encountering unique animals and searching for the elusive snow leopard that very rarely, if ever, reveals itself to humankind.
The Velvet Queen provides audiences with the atmospheric experience of a hunt without weapons, as we follow particularly Munier’s obsession to capture the holy grail of the animal kingdom. The documentary feels simultaneously like a test of human patience and a celebration of slowness. Escapism that is grounded in the reality of the natural world.
Maroons us in a desolate but beautiful part of the world, in a narrative building to a final unforgettable encounter. – Catherine Bray, Film of the Week
Wondrous and utterly sublime, The Velvet Queen is a visual ode to perfection — a mesmerising piece of cinema that exudes utter childlike joy and sets the gold standard for those that would follow in its footsteps. – June Butler, Film Ireland Magazine