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The Velvet Queen

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1:53

The Velvet Queen

Released Dec 22, 2021

1h 32m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

100%

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46 Reviews

86%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In the heart of the Tibetan highlands, multi-award-winning nature photographer Vincent Munier guides writer Sylvain Tesson on his quest to document the infamously elusive snow leopard. Munier introduces Tesson to the subtle art of waiting from a blind spot, tracking animals, and finding the patience to catch sight of the beasts. Through their journey in the Tibetan peaks, inhabited by invisible presences, the two men ponder humankind's place amongst the magnificent creatures and glorious landscapes they encounter along the way.

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Critics Consensus

Its narration might not be distracting for some, but The Velvet Queen more than makes up for it with some truly striking cinematography.

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David Stratton

The Australian

This is more than just a nature documentary — it enters the realm of mysticism and the images of the leopard itself provide an immensely satisfying conclusion.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 11, 2022

Full Review

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

Munier’s breathtaking images are transcendently beautiful. That is all the eloquence the film needs.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 10, 2022

Full Review

Tom Shone

Times (UK)

Snow leopards are one of the subjects of this documentary by Marie Amiguet and Vincent Munier, but they aren’t easy to find, so the film is also about the search itself.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 24, 2022

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Jane Freebury

The Canberra Times (Australia)

Languid and enthralling, this long, patient quest to capture a rare creature on film in its sublime habitat becomes an audience obsession too

Rated: 4/5

Nov 20, 2022

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Sarah Ward

Concrete Playground

A film of beauty, feeling, insight and inspiration.

Nov 13, 2022

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Nadine Whitney

FILMINK (Australia)

On a purely visual level, The Velvet Queen is overwhelmingly breathtaking …

Rated: 18/20

Nov 1, 2022

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Marit Risto F

A delightful experience

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/25/24

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Cinephemeride [

a magnificent documentary which follows an improbable duo in search of wonder in a nature so beautiful when it is preserved. The editing and production provide real suspense to this quest for the snow leopard.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

Victor S

A breath of fresh air. Inspiring. I love how they use the shots sparingly. Every single shot felt extremely detailed and I cannot fit the entirety of what I have to say about this movie in a single review.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/06/23

Full Review

dave d

It's worth boring and invasive narrator to get to the final ten minutes. Pure joy that brings tears may not come to you, but seeing it with others should turn any frown upside down. The visuals are spectacular. I think natural sound and less tangents would have been the better choice, but it's apparent the film needed filler as it is stretched to just over 90 minutes. Final Score: 6.5/10

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/23

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Mark T

An outstanding immersive, visceral experience. Tibetan Brown Bears, Pallas's Cat, Pika's, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Red Deer, Yaks, Tibetan Antelope and Bharal (Blue Sheep) to name a few. The filming is superb and the editing and sound score perfect. The must-watch film of 2022 for lovers of nature and those that seek the solitude of endless landscapes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/09/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Not so much a movie as a rebuttal to U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." The keen insights of Munier and Tesson, the great music of Cave and Ellis, and the unique photography of Munier form a poetic amalgam of perfection that almost exonerates evolution from its greatest regret--humans. The work of these geniuses, impossibly, is concomitant to the subjects themselves. The animals are astonishing. When la panthere makes its appearance, given the context of patience and the backdrop of wonder, an image of raw and honest beauty is seared into your being. You see in those eyes the apotheosis of nature. There's your prophet. If you're unmoved by this, you're immovable. Even tectonics and erosion won't budge you. More than a movie, more than even art, this work is an ethos. Well done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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Marie Amiguet

Director

Vincent Munier

Director

Sylvain Tesson

Self

Vincent Munier

Self

Marie Amiguet

Writer

Vincent Munier

Writer

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The Velvet Queen: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the heart of the Tibetan highlands, multi-award-winning nature photographer Vincent Munier guides writer Sylvain Tesson on his quest to document the infamously elusive snow leopard. Munier introduces Tesson to the subtle art of waiting from a blind spot, tracking animals, and finding the patience to catch sight of the beasts. Through their journey in the Tibetan peaks, inhabited by invisible presences, the two men ponder humankind's place amongst the magnificent creatures and glorious landscapes they encounter along the way.

Director: Marie Amiguet, Vincent Munier
Producer: Pierre-Emmanuel Fleurantin
Screenwriter: Marie Amiguet, Vincent Munier, Marie Amiguet, Vincent Munier
Distributor: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co: Kobalann, arte France Cinéma, Paprika Films, Le Bureau
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2021, Limited
Runtime: 1h 32m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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