Into the Heart of the Mountain

feature-length documentary - 97 min

Into the heart of the mountain

Take the rare and extraordinary opportunity to walk beside Zen Buddhist priest and social activist Roshi Joan Halifax on her path to empower women and indigenous people. This visually magnificent and emotionally bracing documentary charts an intimate pilgrimage with the Nomads Clinic—a team of Western, Nepali, and Tibetan healthcare workers—to deliver free medical care in the most remote regions of the Himalayas. Halifax, in her late 70s, spends 28 days hiking arduous miles, sharing wisdom and practical guidance with her team, and fostering cultural and spiritual exchange with the communities they serve. She also turns directly to the camera to deliver hard truths about gender equality and the relatable “kind of wrath” awakened in her as she observes increasingly selfish and harmful behavior in our societies. Like Joan, the film inspires a desire for peace and a spur towards positive action through service, generosity, and fearlessness.