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Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait

Play trailer Poster for Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait Now Playing 1h 36m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A man enters a clearing, dons a mask, plays a flute, and waits. He is soon joined by other masked people carrying machetes, spears, and bows. They take him to a place deep in the jungle where a ceremony is about to commence, and an elder explains the rules. The ritual takes place once every 12 years. It begins with the full moon, and no one may leave until the new moon rises. Identities beneath the masks must not be revealed. "You are here to prepare for the gap between death and birth," the elder explains. "You are here to find out who you really are." Self-discovery lies at the heart of this mesmerizing film from Khyentse Norbu (The Cup, Travellers and Magicians). The Bhutanese lama and filmmaker, recognized by Tibetan Buddhists as the third incarnation of the founder of Khyentse lineage, imbues his films with a rare spiritual wisdom -- though not at the expense of the traditional movie-going pleasures of spectacle, character, and suspense. Inspired by the concept of the bardo, a state through which departed souls pass before entering their next incarnation, Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait is a colorful plunge into a world where ancient rites can summon our noblest and our basest instincts. Anonymity is intoxicating, the elder warns the participants, and can provoke reckless action. Indeed, between dazzling displays of ritual dance we will witness thievery, violation, and even murder. Can there be such a thing as justice in this self-contained world beholden to the ceremonial rules? As it draws nearer to its climax, Hema Hema reveals insights into human nature and how it manifests, not just in the wild but also in the modern world of endless distraction.
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Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait

Critics Reviews

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Namrata Joshi The Hindu A metaphorical interpretation of insidious violence. Jul 24, 2018 Full Review Robert Koehler Cinema Scope It's an interesting gambit for an international man of cinema, and nirvana. Sep 29, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 36 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait

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Cast & Crew

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Khyentse Norbu

Director

Tshering Dorji

Expressionless

Sadon Lhamo

Red Wrathful

Thinley Dorji

Agay

Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Deer

Xun Zhou

Daughter
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Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait

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Movie Info

Synopsis A man enters a clearing, dons a mask, plays a flute, and waits. He is soon joined by other masked people carrying machetes, spears, and bows. They take him to a place deep in the jungle where a ceremony is about to commence, and an elder explains the rules. The ritual takes place once every 12 years. It begins with the full moon, and no one may leave until the new moon rises. Identities beneath the masks must not be revealed. "You are here to prepare for the gap between death and birth," the elder explains. "You are here to find out who you really are." Self-discovery lies at the heart of this mesmerizing film from Khyentse Norbu (The Cup, Travellers and Magicians). The Bhutanese lama and filmmaker, recognized by Tibetan Buddhists as the third incarnation of the founder of Khyentse lineage, imbues his films with a rare spiritual wisdom -- though not at the expense of the traditional movie-going pleasures of spectacle, character, and suspense. Inspired by the concept of the bardo, a state through which departed souls pass before entering their next incarnation, Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait is a colorful plunge into a world where ancient rites can summon our noblest and our basest instincts. Anonymity is intoxicating, the elder warns the participants, and can provoke reckless action. Indeed, between dazzling displays of ritual dance we will witness thievery, violation, and even murder. Can there be such a thing as justice in this self-contained world beholden to the ceremonial rules? As it draws nearer to its climax, Hema Hema reveals insights into human nature and how it manifests, not just in the wild but also in the modern world of endless distraction.
Director
Khyentse Norbu
Producer
Sarah Chen, Pawo Choyning Dorji
Screenwriter
Khyentse Norbu
Distributor
Dekanalog
Production Co
Tsong Tsong Ma Productions, Dewathang Talkie
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Dzongkha
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 8, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 36m
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