Becoming a Woman in Zanskar

Plot Summary

In the remote kingdom of Zanskar, in the northern Himalayas, Becoming Woman recounts the true and moving story of a friendship shattered by destiny when two young girls have to part and leave their village and their families forever... to become women ! Palkit and Tenzin are best friends. Throughout their carefree childhoods they have never known anything other than their village surrounded by snow peaked mountains. Yet, suddenly they’re about to enter adult life. Tenzin, at 22, learns that her father has found her a husband from a neighboring village whom she has never met. Distressed and unhappy, she will nevertheless accept her fate. Her family helps her prepare for the wedding ceremony during which the grooms’ friends will symbolically kidnap her. After a final farewell to her loved ones, she will be taken away on horseback to her new life. Palkit is 25 years old. To avoid getting married with an unknown man, she has chosen to become a nun and wishes to leave her family to enter a monastery in Dharam Sala, where resides the Dalai Lama. Her father however is deeply opposed to her decision and would like her to stay and help with the chores. Palkit will have to brave her fathers’ authority, and embark on a perilous journey of 120 km by foot on a frozen river to reach the monastery. Two girls in the Himalayas: one kidnapped by her future husband, the other head shaved as she enters the convent forever. Two ordeals for the same goal… to become women!