The cast of Himalaya consists of local villagers and non-professionals. Set in the Dolpo region in Nepal the story is about a Himalayan tribe transporting salt by yak across the mountains to trade for grain. A pragmatic, ambitious young warrior, Karma, struggles for control with the superstitious but wise village chief (who blames Karma for the death of his son). The villagers split into two factions as each brave the perilous mountain passes to get to their destination. Despite the differences in culture, language and locales, the film is thematically very similar to the classic western Red River. The struggle for power appears to be a universal phenomenon in every group. French director Eric Valli has lived in Nepal since 1983 and has published regularly in "National Geographic" and "Life" magazine and this shows in the film's breathtaking photography.