Himalayan Road: A New Frontier

In the remote Lungnak Valley of the Indian Himalayas, a large-scale road project is underway to connect opposite sides of the region. Local farmers, who once lived independently, now spend their days performing grueling manual labor, such as blasting cliffs and breaking rocks, alongside other impoverished Indian workers. This modernization effort forces the community to abandon their ancestral lands and livestock, creating a conflict between the desire for financial gain and the need to preserve a traditional way of life. The inhabitants face an uncertain future, weighing the potential for greater comfort against the loss of a delicate social and environmental balance maintained over many generations.

This documentary was directed and written by Marianne Chaud, who spent six months in the mountains to capture the daily lives of the workers. The film features narration by Chaud in the French version and Sharon Mann in the English version. Produced by ARTE, ZED, and FODACIM, the movie was released on August 28, 2025, with a total runtime of 85 minutes.