What the fog keeps hidden
Summary
Elephants in the Fog (Tiniharu), directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, portrays a transgender family in Thori on the edge of Chitwan’s jungle as they navigate elephant raids, social ostracization, and a missing daughter. The film became Nepal’s first official selection in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard and won the Jury Prize and Best Sound Award.
Key Points
- Elephants in the Fog (Tiniharu) is set in Thori, where wild elephants destroy crops and a transgender family lives under social pressure and ritualized acceptance.
- Pushpa Thing Lama plays Pirati, a Guru Aama whose missing foster daughter sets off a solitary search that becomes both a mystery and a search for identity.
- The film’s sound and visual design are highlighted as major strengths, earning it the Best Sound Award at Cannes.
- The film won the Jury Prize in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, marking a historic first official selection and award for Nepali cinema.
