Skip to main content

Deep Dive: The Only Son (2013)

Film Lens

The Only Son
The Only Son follows Pema, a 19-year-old from a Nepali Himalayan village at an altitude of 13,000 feet. Raised in a Kathmandu orphanage, Pema's parents had to give away most of their six children due to poverty and illness. The film presents Pema's internal conflict between his duty to care for his family's home and his desire to study abroad and embrace a modern lifestyle. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Pema's family, which is now scattered across the globe. The film captures the tension between traditional expectations and personal aspirations, illustrating Pema's struggle as the only son tasked with maintaining family ties while yearning for a different future.

Why Watch

  • Meet Pema, a young man torn between duty and ambition.
  • See the challenges of life at 13,000 feet in the Himalayas.
  • Find out how family dynamics shape personal choices.

Did You Know

Pema grew up in an orphanage in Kathmandu due to his family's poverty.
Pema's family originally had six children, most of whom were given away.
The family home is located at an altitude of 13,000 feet in the Himalayas.
The film was directed by a woman, emphasizing a unique perspective.

Perfect For

Nepalese cultureFamily dynamicsYoung adult aspirations