Phurba Tshering Lama

In Nepalese society, "Jaar" refers to a man who has an illicit affair with another man's wife. During the reign of Jung Bahadur Rana (1846–1877), he proclaimed that the husband had the right to behead the guilty Jaar. Rudraman and Thuli as outcasts, face a perilous journey, cut off from the security of family and tradition.

In rural Darjeeling, Balvir and his companion make their living carrying fresh meat to market along the beautiful but treacherous mountain pathways. Exhausted by the backbreaking work, Balvir often pauses to question the meaning of his destiny, nevertheless conscious of the harmony of nature. When his friend falters under the weight of his heavy load, Balvir must determine his own next steps. ‘The Beaten Path’ is a gorgeous meditation on suffering and the simplicity of life.