Sunshine that Can Move Mountains (2017)

I would walk 5000 miles for you or 8046 km, whichever comes first

Fair warning, Sunshine that Can Move Mountains is one of those mildly contemplative, slow paced, nothing really happens movies that are like butterfly nip to me. This is not the strongest Tibetan Buddhist film I’ve watched, but I still enjoyed it.

Twenty-four-year-old Tenzin Paljor/Banjue is a monk who has resided at the monastery near Lhasa since he was a child. He’s already completed 100,000 prostrations and is well thought of by the Lama/Guru. When a messenger arrives to inform Tenzin that his brother, Luoci, was badly injured in a mountain fall, Tenzin has to leave. The Lama calls on the monastery to pray for Tenzin as he knows this two-week period will be a trial for the young man and worries he might not return. The two weeks becomes an extended stay as Tenzin helps his mother care for his brother which puts him in uncomfortably close quarters with his beautiful and potential sister-in-law.

I shouldn’t have said nothing happens in this film. There was a love square, a missing yak, and beautiful snowfall. The Buddhist themes and symbolism were strong, many of which I’m sure I missed or didn’t fully understand. That didn’t stop me from settling into this film and going along with it. The scenery and cinematography were stunning and the small village was like stepping back into time albeit with motorbikes.

This film will not appeal to the majority of film fans, I’m sure. This sort of spiritual journey with a devoted monk tempted to set aside his calling for the secular life and love is my jam. The story definitely had a few hiccoughs, but overall, I enjoyed the mostly quiet contemplation on life and life goals. 7.75 rounded up to 8.0

6 July 2026

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