The unexpected arrival of a snow leopard in a local shepherd's pen and the death of nine rams not only cause a stir in the family with a conflict between father and son- the son insists they should kill the leopard whereas the father insists they should set it free but also draw a television crew to the village...

"This is a story of unequalled compassion, care and love. It is also a story which shows how men and snow leopards (or other living creatures) can eventually live alongside each other... During the writing process, I divided the whole story into two parts, one realistic and the other surreal. Although they may appear to be two stories about the present and the past, they are somehow intrinsically linked and inseparable... The realistic part and the surreal part have both got a touch of magic realism. Although the realistic part is a story which unfolds in the present, it has surreal elements; although the surreal part is a story which took place a long time ago, it has realistic elements." Pema Tseden