Hello. I recently saw this dvd which I thought was very well done, however the following questioned me to consider the authenticity of several movie scenes. In the movie the Tibetans are chasing poachers until they fall, bleeding, out of breath, suffering from pulmonary edema. Is this possible? Can natives acclimatized to the altitude die from extreme exertion in this way? Can a foreigner running a 5 or 10km race in the same area suffer similar effects?
In another scene a jeep becomes stuck in what appears to be mud. When he gets out he quickly sinks into what I guess might be dry quicksand. Is this a hazard in the region?
Thx for any info you can provide re these off the wall questions. I reccomend the movie for among other reasons the gorgeous scenery. Avsfan
Kekexili is a great movie. My website is actually named after it. I have traveled through Kekexili (Hoh Xil) many, many times. Nearly all of the movie was filmed in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Qinghai province (part of the traditional Tibetan province of Kham). Here are my thoughts on your observations:
The Tibetans who formed the original mountain patrol were all from Yushu, specifically from Chumarleb and Drido counties. These counties have an average elevation of over 4300m. Kekexili has an average elevation of around 4600m. In my opinion, the Tibetans would not have had any problems with the elevation. The poachers however, were mostly Muslims (Hui people) from Hualong and Xunhua counties (not far from Xining) which average only around 2400m above sea level. So it is quite possible they could have had some major problems with the elevation.
I don't know a lot about quicksand, but I have never come across any in Kekexili, though I suppose it could be a possibility.
Kekexili is based on true events that took place in the 1990's. Though not everything in the movie may be factual, it is still a very good movie to see. It is also a good reason to visit Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Qinghai. At over 97% Tibetan, the prefecture has one of the highest percentages of Tibetans anywhere in the greater Tibet area.
Hah - have been trying to get hold of this one for some time, along with a rumoured movie entitled 'The Plateau'; without luck. Re the AMS effects, unlikely. I have seen a lot of people struggling up high passes [including me, I hasten to add!] and I feel they would simply come to a halt from lack of oxygen, rather than bleed from HAPE.
Most sufferers just double over panting furiously, and look like death warmed up. The guides out at Darchen keep a few horses handy - they anticipate that several of each party walking the Mt Kailash kora will not make it, so they get the horses to haul their heavy asses over the top...
I would be backing a local if they ever hold a Lhasa marathon!
Thx to both of you for the information. The movie really was beautiful and has spurred me into learning more about the area. I have found some internet sites on the Wild Yak Brigade,the patrol on which the movie was based. Apparently they were based out of Golmud? Your lucky to have first hand experience with Tibet!! Cheers AVsfan
Just an aside - I had the privilege of visiting Kekexili for a day last month. It is sad to see the displays of photos of the poachers caught with huge numbers of dead antelopes. We watched 2 baby antelopes being bottle fed.
Hi Losang. Congratulations for you web site where you give so much information. That's a book. I red the whole article. I'm a litle sad know because I wanted to cross from Nepal to China but it looks almost imposible if people have to attach to other people after leave tibet or China. That is very ridicolous, apart from that is very expensive.
Beatiful pictures as well.
Hi Phillip. I don't know where you live but in the U.k. or other countiries you can get the film from LOVEFILM (send to you house).About THE PLATEU, it looks doesn't exist according to the database in IMDB. The closer is a Turkish film from 1.982 called YAYLA KIZI and translated in english (the plateu).
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