In the vastness of the Himalayas,
the Tibetan people lead quiet lives, in harmony with nature.

But what was once a peaceful land is no more.

This is the story inspired by one people's remarkable mission ...

For the love of their land, for the freedom
of their souls, for the future of their world ...

Risking their lives, the men of the villages unite
to save the Tibetan Antelope from certain extinction
at the hands of heavily armed poachers.

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  WVXU Film Review ~ Mountain Patrol: Kekexili:
Listen to the review.            Read the review.

Watch the Trailer

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About Kekexili

BASED ON A TRUE STORY, Mountain Patrol: Kekexili is the extraordinary saga of one community's courage, determination and sacrifice, filmed in one of the world's most forbiddingly beautiful places in the high-mountain plains of the Tibetan Plateau. Remote and desolate, the Kekexili region is immense (the size of Indiana or Maine), covering 32,000 square miles at an elevation 3 miles above sea level (higher than the peak of Mt. Rainier in the State of Washington). A joint presentation of National Geographic Films, Columbia Pictures, and Samuel Goldwyn Films, this is a hauntingly powerful film that needs to be seen on a big screen.

KEKEXILI CAN BE TAKEN at face value, easily appreciated as an action drama that has the plot construction of a classic thriller -- building tension and suspense to reach an unexpected ending. Director Chuan Lu's film is refreshing in its honesty and credibility, with a documentary feel enhanced by the use of amateur Tibetan actors in most of the roles. The ensemble cast approach works well with Chuan's use of traditional Chinese narrative filmmaking, with no predominant star relatively balanced roles.

CINEMATICALLY, THE FILM offers the visual impact seen in the best classic American westerns, with sweeping panoramic shots of a stark, expansive and incredibly beautiful wilderness -- in the style of masters John Ford and Sergio Leone. Yet, while cinematographer Cao Yu captures the primal landscape in stunning, elegantly composed imagery, the awesome visuals never overwhelm the compelling narrative, which unfolds with an unsparing realism, thankfully absent a clichéd, predictable ending. Although breathtaking to watch, KEKEXILI is just as impressive for the moral complexity and subtlety of its narrative.

ONE FILM HISTORIAN has noted that KEKEXILI is one of just a few films made in mainland China that have been permitted into competition at the Golden Horse awards (Chinese language version of the U.S. Oscars) in Taiwan. Indeed, it is only one of two films from the Chinese mainland to win Taiwan's Golden Horse for Best Picture.

LOOKING UNDER THE TOUGH exterior skin of this story, we see that this is no simplistic, black-and-white tale of heroic volunteers chasing the evil poachers, but a saga rendered in shades of gray. What the poachers do is morally reprehensible, yet sadly understandable, given that many are poor, have been forced off their land and would starve to death otherwise. At the same time, the Mountain Patrol is forced to make some morally compromised choices to protect the Chiru, the Tibetan Antelope.

BASED ON THE TENSION and circumstances surrounding China's control of Tibet, those who follow world politics and current events will find it interesting to note the participation of the Chinese press in reporting the original true story, as well as the ultimate action of the Chinese government in setting up the Kekexili preserve to protect the Tibetan antelope, the yak, wild donkey and other native plateau animals.

ALTHOUGH THE TRAFFIC in endangered wildlife gives the film a headline hook, the story that unfolds has as much to do with man's inhumanity to man as to his fellow creatures. As a result of the National Geographic Society's long-standing commitment in support of research and preserveration in Tibet, this moving, fact-based story offers an important message -- about our environment and its wildlife -- delivered in a way that touches your heart and mind without being in your face. Equally important is the parallel message about honor and a sense of obligation to one's culture and habitat.

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"Trading tiger bones for antelope wool" ~ Director Chuan Lu's comments on filming and working with patrol members and with poachers; the illegal shatoosh trade, and more.

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The Kekexili Reserve and the Tibetan Antelope

GEOGRAPHIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE: The Tibetan Plateau is the third least-populated region in the world and covers roughly one million square miles - roughly 4 times the size of France or Texas. The Kekexili region within this area covers 32,000 square miles, roughly equal to the size of Indiana or Maine. The portion of the Kekexili addressed in the film (which subsequently became a protected reserve) is about 17,000 square miles, roughly equal to the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.

Despite its harsh, cold climate, characterized by snow storms, hail storms and sand storms, the Kekexili (also known as Hoh Xil) is home to more than 230 species of wild animals, 20 of which are now under state protection, including the wild yak, wild donkey, white-lip deer, brown bear and the endangered Tibetan antelope.

UNTIL THE MID-1980S, an estimated one million Tibetan antelope, called chiru, roamed Kekexili on the Qinghai portion of the Tibetan Plateau, known throughout the region as "the roof of the world." Less than a decade later, the chiru numbers had dwindled to less than 50,000, due to rampant poaching (animal lovers be warned: the poaching footage in the film is brief but graphic). Unlike sheep, the Tibetan Antelope's wool cannot be had by shearing. It is the undercoat that is highly prized, called shatoosh, and the animal must be skinned to obtain the pelt. Using machine guns, poachers would strafe whole herds of chiru for their wool, destined for use in the illegal but highly lucrative shatoosh scarf market.     Click on the graphic for more info >>>

OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, worldwide trade in shahtoosh has rocketed by 50% and shahtoosh shawls have become a fashion 'must-have' among wealthy westerners, particularly in the UK, USA, France, Italy, Japan and Russia. The international fashion industry has been guilty of endorsing this trade largely due to ignorance of the facts (and greed). The rarity and quality of shahtoosh means that prices are high and depending on size, a shawl bought under-the-counter in the West can cost between $1,000-$2,500 and larger ones can bring $5,000 or more. In peak years, Authorities estimated that 50,000 Tibetan Antelopes were killed annually for their wool, which produce, on average, 20,000 shahtoosh scarves or shawls. At a conservative average price of $1,500, this quantity represents $30 Million in annual sales for the retail end.

WHILE MANY WORLD GOVERNMENTS and the fashion industry have become more educated on the subject and have since pronounced bans on possession and sale of shatoosh, the poaching continues thanks to high demand from the black market. The Chinese government has experienced some success in policing the Kekexili reserve and the chiru has rebounded a bit, to around 50,000.

AS A CO-PRESENTER OF MOUNTAIN PATROL: KEKEXILI, and in the spirit of the emotional story the film conveys, the National Geographic has launched the Tibet Conservation Fund. This effort will support multi-disciplinary projects and educational programs that help scientists, explorers, local residents, and governments work together to preserve Tibet's wildlife and habitat.


Learn more by clicking on the graphic above.