Get ready for an incredible journey into the remote Tibetan wilderness in search of one of the elusive creatures on the planet. At long last, the awe-inspiring nature documentary The Velvet Queen is in cinemas now.
Directed and shot by Marie Amiguet and Vincent Munier, with additional cinematography by Léo-Pol Jacquot, the film follows Munier, a highly respected wildlife photographer, and Sylvain Tesson, a travel writer who also narrates the film, on a challenging expedition into the Himalayas to try and photograph the Snow Leopard.
Their quest takes them into some of the most hostile territory on Earth, a remote wilderness inimical to human trespass and populated by antelopes, wolves, bears—and the stealthy, fascinating snow leopard. Travelling with them, we learn the art of patience as Munier and Tesson lay in wait for the wraith-like creature, spending long days and nights holed up in carefully concealed blinds, hoping for a glimpse—or, better still, a shot—of the beast.
The expedition has already resulted in a book, Sylvain Tesson’s The Art of Patience: Seeking the Snow Leopard in Tibet, published in 2019, but this documentary is arguably a better and more immersive account, taking us on the trip alongside the intrepid pair. It’s certainly an example of slow cinema, though; the joy of the experience lies in relaxing into the stunning mountain vistas and spectacular wildlife photography, all soundtracked by a haunting score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and feeling the passage of time and the rhythms of the natural world.
It’s definitely worth a trip to the cinema as well; the haunting, lonely atmosphere demands a big screen in a darkened room, and your home set up simply won’t cut the mustard. So those with a taste for adventure-by-proxy should start planning their own expedition to the local movie house ASAP.
