A posthumous film by Tibetan director Pema Tsedn, who died at the age of 53, just four months before its premiere.
A snow leopard breaks into a sheep pen of a nomad and kills nine rams. The animal sparks a heated dispute: the herder wants to kill the leopard that has turned his sheep pen into a bloodbath, much to the chagrin of family members. To some, the animal holds near-mythic significance in that it represents the order of things; to others, its status is of the legal variety, so they are less concerned about it being harmed than by being held responsible. Father and son then argue: the son insists on killing the snow leopard, but the father insists on releasing it. The whole community is thus faced with a difficult dilemma, compelling them to reconsider their relationship with the natural world.
"Pema Tseden's swan song is a final reminder that the Tibetan director had his finger firmly on the pulse of the human condition. Snow Leopard is small in scale as a story and massive in scale when it comes to its breathtaking scenery, yet Pema Tseden manages to ground the film in human emotions. But he also reminds us of the insignificance of our differences when put against the forces of nature." (Marc van de Klashorst, International Cinephile Society)