Tears of Cordyceps

Au-dela Katmandu (Beyond Kathmandu) is a French-Irish documentary recently released commercially in Paris – an exhilarating journey to the 5,000-meter-high mountains of Nepal, meeting the communities living on the 'roof of the world' to harvest yarsagumba (cordyceps sinensis), a mushroom more valuable than gold. The screening was attended by the film crew and the main character, Jammuna.

The film (English title: My Sisters ) begins with a journey following two sisters, Jammuna and Anmuna, temporarily residing in Kathmandu – a valley surrounded by the Himalayas – as they return home after four years away. For Jammuna, who had a difficult childhood and cared for her younger sister Anmuna since she was very young, this is a very special moment as she prepares to study in Japan and perhaps will be her last time participating in the yarsagumba (cordyceps sinensis) harvest with her family. The film is therefore simultaneously an exploration of the gentle yet harsh mountains, a discovery of a traditional custom that is both fascinating and unsettling, and finally, a story about the personal journey of the girl whose past is gradually revealed through fragmented pieces…

The film begins by following two sisters, Jammuna and Anmuna, who are temporarily residing in the capital city of Kathmandu, as they return home after four years away.

PHOTO: TL

Official media called it a documentary, but the 90 minutes of the film are a moving experience for the characters, including the mountains… In early 2020, when French-Irish director Alexander Murphy came to Nepal to find a character to reflect the aspirations of Nepalese youth and the problems of mountain farmers whose lives depend entirely on harvesting yarsagumba mushrooms for his feature film, he coincidentally met Jammuna, whose parents mortgaged their land to send her to Kathmandu to study – but who was actually tricked into going to "orphanages" exploiting charitable Western funding after the 2015 earthquake.

Aware of the predicament and danger – many children were abducted and forced into prostitution in Nepal's capital, or taken to animal circuses in India – Jammuna decided to find her way to Japan, freeing herself and hoping to help her family. Alexander Murphy said that for him, Jammuna was an example of courage in the fight for freedom, and that he wanted to make this film as an tribute to a true warrior. They began planning the film.

The 90-minute documentary is an emotional tribute to the characters...

PHOTO: TGCC

In 2023, Jammuna called Alexander to say she was going to Japan, but before that, she and her sister would return to their village to participate in the final yarsagumba harvest for their parents. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to gather materials, Alexander and his team immediately followed the two girls on their mountain climbing journey...

The real journey, the real stories of real people, deeply moved the viewers. Besides the mostly static shots showcasing the majestic and breathtaking Himalayan peaks, the director devoted considerable effort to the sound design, transporting the viewer along with him to an altitude of 5,000 meters – a place where at times "you don't really know where you're going!". And it was in this magical setting that these women expressed emotions they had never shared with anyone, not even their families…

After a long day climbing the yarsagumba mushroom fields, Jammuna and her family camped overnight on a cliff. Around the campfire, under the anxious, astonished gaze of her parents, the young girl began to recount the terrible time she and her sister endured at the capital's "boarding school." The writer's eyes welled up when Jammuna's mother sobbed, and when Jammuna revealed she would be leaving for Japan for many years, much to the shock of her family; but tears still flowed when Jammuna, amidst the vast sky, told her sister that her greatest fear in life was losing her parents while she was far from home! Present at the screening after a long flight from Japan, Jammuna said she hoped the film would be shown in Nepal, India, and around the world so that people could better understand her country, its breathtaking natural beauty, and the tragic plight of its people.

Besides the mostly static shots showcasing the majestic and breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas, the director devoted considerable effort to the sound design to transport viewers to an altitude of 5,000 meters.

PHOTO: TL

The writer firmly believes this film will be captivating in Vietnam, not only because of its stunning scenery and meticulous depiction of the hardships involved in harvesting the legendary mushrooms, but also because it touches upon the pain of family separation due to the struggle for survival. Artistically, besides its fluid, zigzag structure, director Alexander Murphy and cinematographer Jean-Baptiste Plard pay close attention to image composition and lighting. Maxence Dussère's music is superb, and the editing is excellent. Overall, this film offers a wealth of experiences—physical, emotional, and academic—to the audience.

After the meet-and-greet, I went to greet the crew, expressing my wish for the film to be screened in Vietnam. The young people were very happy to connect with me because Vietnam is among the priority destinations for future films. Contact information has been exchanged, now we just need to proceed with the formalities…

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nuoc-mat-cua-dong-trung-ha-thao-185260315083741642.htm