The Matho Monastery or Gonpa was founded around 1410 and is presently one of only two Sakyapa monasteries in Ladakh. It is home to a treasury of Tibetan art particularly of Thangkas and Bronzes, but as in other monasteries the artifacts are subject to decay and in need of restoration.
On the recommendation of a high-ranking Rinpoche they invite a young French woman, Nelly Rieuf, who is expert in Himalayan art, and has worked in other monasteries, to help them preserve their treasures and build a museum. The film – which is in French with many subtitles – tells the story of their work.
The film follows Nelly as she sets out to train local women in thangka preservation, and also works with foreigners who are willing to give their time in order to have such a rare opportunity. We also see Nelly trying to fund raise back in Europe and explain the value of the works in the monastery.
Towards the end we see the preparations for the yearly Matho monastery festival, which attracts people from all over Ladakh. The film, which was made in 2014, ends with the festival and we never see the museum built. It seems from their Wikipedia page that the museum was completed, but the project website is no longer available, and its exact standing is not clear.
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