Cited by Martin Scorsese as a favorite recent film and inspiration for his own Kundun, Horse Thief is a rare film from China that tries to engage with the Tibetan religious culture the Chinese government worked so hard to destroy during the Cultural Revolution decade (1966-1976). The plot, about the efforts of a horse thief to survive his punishment and win reacceptance by his community, is minimal. Most of the film is given over to mesmerizing depictions of religious ceremonies and rites. Yet, if this film that uses Tibetan nonprofessional actors and was shot originally in the Tibetan language is respectful and devoid of Chinese nationalist politics, it may be a mistake to think it is sympathetic to Tibet's religious culture. Director Tian Zhuangzhuang has stated that he saw the story as an allegory for the sufferings the Han Chinese brought upon themselves during the Cultural Revolution because of their own fanatical beliefs at the time.Chris Berry