The Horse Thief
Devout Buddhists, Norbu and Dolma live with their young son Tashi in a clan in Tibet. Norbu is a highwayman. After Norbu is charged with stealing from the temple, he and his family are banished. Impoverished and marginalized, they can do little when their beloved son becomes ill. Tashi dies of a fever. After a second son is born, Norbu focuses his every action on keeping this child alive, seeking re-admission to the clan for his wife and child, then risking all to save them from isolation and starvation in winter.
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Cast
6 people
Tian Zhuangzhuang Director · Rui Zhang Writer Qu Xiaosong Composer
First release January 1, 1986 · Produced in China · Languages Chinese, Tibetan
Production
Xi'an Film Studio
Production
China
Produced in
Languages
Original title
盗马贼
Original language
Tibetan
Spoken on screen
Chinese · Tibetan
Release dates
China · January 1, 1986
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Hong Kong SAR China
March 19, 2019 · Theatrical · 電影節
April 3, 2026 · Premiere · Hong Kong International Film Festival
Netherlands
January 30, 1987 · Premiere · Source: MUBI (IFFR)
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Some details come from TheTVDB.