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The Horse Thief

1986·Movie
1h 28min

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

The Horse Thief fingerprint

Striking style, no humor.

Energy

Spectacular

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Spectacle7
  • Tension6
  • Violence3

Heart

Deeply moving and profoundly sad

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy9
  • Family Dynamics9

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Situational Comedy0
  • Wit & Wordplay0
  • Physical Comedy0

World

Family, faith and meaning, and history

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Rewatchability6
  • Novelty6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography9
  • Music Composition7
  • Music Centrality7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want something to laugh atYou need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Devout Buddhists, Norbu and Dolma live with their young son Tashi in a clan in Tibet. Norbu is a highwayman. After Norbu is charged with stealing from the temple, he and his family are banished. Impoverished and marginalized, they can do little when their beloved son becomes ill. Tashi dies of a fever. After a second son is born, Norbu focuses his every action on keeping this child alive, seeking re-admission to the clan for his wife and child, then risking all to save them from isolation and starvation in winter.
Tibetan DramaSpiritual JourneyFamily StruggleHarsh RealismCultural ImmersionExistential ReflectionVisually StrikingSlow-PacedBleak but PoignantHuman Endurance

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Horse Thief

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Horse Thief legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for The Horse Thief in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is The Horse Thief worth watching?

67
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 67/100 (IMDb 6.8). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Horse Thief rated?

Disturbing imagery

Content advisories: disturbing imagery.

How long is The Horse Thief?

1 h 28 min

The Horse Thief runs 1 h 28 min.

What language is The Horse Thief in?

TibetanChinese

It was made in Tibetan, with some Chinese. Produced in China.