Tharlo 2016

As “Ponytail” Tharlo (Shide Nyima), a modest sheep herder with a distinctive hairstyle, ventures into town to fulfill police chief Dorje (Tashi)‘s requirement for an ID card photograph, he unexpectedly encounters Yangtso (Yang Shik Tso), a lively young hairdresser who perfectly embodies the essence of modernity. Her striking short hair and rebellious attitude leave Tharlo both perplexed and fascinated. The flirtatious advances from Yangtso and her suggestion for them to embark on a journey together bring a flicker of excitement to Tharlo’s otherwise simple life. Following a night of festivities at a karaoke bar, he finds himself enveloped in her carefree charm.

However, his retreat back to the mountains is fleeting, as the thrill of the unfamiliar lures him back to town once more. An unfortunate drunken escapade leads to dire repercussions: wolves ravage a significant part of his flock, prompting a harsh reprimand from the sheep owner. Yet Tharlo is resolute; he returns to the town with a decent sum he earned from selling the affected sheep, offering it to Yangtso for safekeeping. But when she requests to shave off his beloved ponytail, it marks a pivotal moment: the very next morning, she vanishes without a trace, leaving Tharlo’s dreams of a new life with her shattered.

Heartbroken and disheartened, Tharlo seeks refuge at chief Dorje’s station, yearning to find Yangtso and move beyond his sorrow. Yet, destiny has other ideas: Dorje instructs Tharlo to return to town yet again, this time for another ID card photograph, citing the significant shift in his appearance post-haircut. Bewildered and crestfallen, Tharlo leaves the station, only to find himself once again adrift and isolated.

As he wanders back into the mountains, the fuel in his motorbike finally runs out, propelling him into yet another round of self-indulgence through drinking. Later, in a moment of desperation, he ignites a firecracker, and as the screen fades to black just before its anticipated explosion, Tharlo’s fate remains cloaked in mystery.