At KIMFF, cinema climbs mountains and confronts demons

At the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF), two distinct cinematic narratives captivated audiences: Veemsen Lama's short fiction film 'Lakhey' and Alex von Melle's documentary 'Luis’ Letzte Reise'.

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Lakhey Ram, a gambler who is trying to become a ‘good father’ to compensate for the lack of a maternal figure in his daughter’s life, sets off for Kathmandu to hunt for a job.

'Lakhey' plunges viewers into a psychological thriller centered on Lakhey Ram, a gambler grappling with fatherhood and greed. Trapped in a recurring loop, he must confront the demon 'Lakhey' after a seemingly small act of denial. The film uses its 15-minute runtime to explore themes of conscience and consequence, employing a muted color palette and tight framing to intensify the emotional distress of its protagonist. Despite its supernatural premise, the film focuses on human dilemmas rather than folklore.

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When Ram survives his first outrun from the Lakhey, every decision he takes is the same, yet you can sense the distress he goes through each time.

In contrast, 'Luis’ Letzte Reise' offers a poignant tribute to adventure and love. The documentary chronicles Alex von Melle's journey to Nepal to scatter the ashes of her husband, Luis Stitzinger, a mountaineer who died on Mt Kangchenjunga. Alex shares her memories and grief while embarking on the 'Ash Mission' to Putha Hiunchuli. The film's visual style, with Alex often framed against a soft, blurred background, personalizes her emotional experience for the audience, juxtaposing her narration with the grandeur of the Nepalese landscapes.

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This 15-minute short fiction, rather than a folklore story about the demon itself, explores dilemmas, greed, and fatherhood, all while maintaining the thrill of recursive horror.