The RAS is pleased to announce the next film screening: on 21 January we will watch a French documentary La Panthère des neiges (The Velvet Queen) directed by Marie Amiguet. Gorgeous, humbling, looking out-, up- and inward, the film is the rare nature feature about not only beauty and beasts but also the very human urge to make sense of our place in it all.

In the heart of the Tibetan highlands, multi-award-winning nature photographer Vincent Munier​ guides writer Sylvain Tesson​ on his quest to document the infamously elusive snow leopard. Munier introduces Tesson to the subtle art of waiting from a blind spot, tracking animals, and finding the patience to catch sight of the beasts. Through their journey in the Tibetan peaks, inhabited by invisible presences, the two men ponder humankind's place amongst the magnificent creatures and glorious landscapes they encounter along the way

The film had its world premiere in the Cinema for the Climate section at the 74th Cannes Film Festival in July 2021. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 46 reviews and an average rating of 8/10. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com described the film as "a calming, meditative experience." Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film 4 out of 5, stating that "(it) has a real writer whose style rises above the cliché ...". In France the film won the Lumières Award for Best Documentary and was nominated for Best Musical Score in 2022.

Film

The Velvet Queen (La Panthère des neiges)

Directors

Marie Amiguet​

Stars

Vincent Munier​, Sylvain Tesson​

Music

Warren Ellis​ and Nick Cave​

Language

French with English subtitles

Running Time

1h 32m