Raised in a sheltered village, young Lila yearns for a life devoted to Hindu worship, like that of her mother. But soon she begins to encounter worldly obstacles to her spiritual fulfillment. Guileless, Lila agrees to model for a lowly village boy who hopes to become a sculptor, but she soon attracts the attention of the village landlord’s son, as well as the ever-present gaze of the villagers, unknowingly endangering both of their lives. Khyentse Norbu follows up his internationally-awarded The Cup and Travellers and Magicians with this buoyant look at one young woman’s transition into adulthood. Accented by mesmerizing bursts of classical Indian dance, haunting vocals, and vivid Hindu fantasyscapes, the film stars Indian actress Shahana Goswami.

-Frederic Boyer