the first review which draw me to watch kekexili compare it to the great american western so i will start with the difference . to begin with and the region 1 dvd cover show here on imdb be splatter with more red or blood than you will actually see in the film otoh and the region 3 dvd cover completely give away the end . talk about cultural difference in market strategy action or plot vs. something worthy of repeat viewing . more importantly and american western be generally make in 20th century about 18th 19th century and so even the most gritty and hard hitting one be full of american romantizations about a long go time and place . otoh and kekexili be a 2004 film about something that only happen 10 year ago so it be full of the kind of realism that even national geographic may find hard to achieve ( high altitude cinematography with the sand and the cold crack the film stock and get the local to talk and etc . ) . iow and fan of the american western be not go to enjoy this film the chase or action sequence be few and short and slow ( you move too fast at high altitude you die ) and the patrol men do not exhibit any modern or western sense of individualism or heroism that audience can cheer for . even fan of the discovery channel may not know how to react there be very little narration to tell audience what to think and very little music to tell audience what to feel and very little slow motion or panning cinematography for audience to ogle at . what this film be and be a different kind of docu drama ( more abbas kiarostami than akira kurosawa ) the kind where the director pull all his punch with such minimalist scripting and plotting and acting and photography and editing and that audience be deny any possibility of a cheap thrill ( the ah hah or wow from be give a back story and message and climax and conclusion and etc . ) . this be where this film rise above the like of himalaya which try to tuck in a conventional but awkward narrative structure in the word of the director and it very cruel to the audience . i mean and talk about let the subject matter speak for itself it start out with the premise of some high action adventure and but continually break the pace to let the reality of high altitude patrol intrude . and since we be mostly embed with the reporter who speak only a little tibetan and very little be explain to u or the reporter ( the patrol men aren not great talker . ) . to improve the immersion factor or get a sense of the wonder and confusion the reporter felt and try watch the film without the subtitle for the tibetan dialogue . like a backpacking or trek trip and you might have to think about what you saw or felt after you come back . this film have a limited marketing and release because it do not quite fit any of the commercial film genre but i will be watch out for director lu chuan next film about the nanjing massacre ( or incident a some japanese call it ) .