The Horse Thief
盗马贼
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
Hong Kong International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Tian Zhuangzhuang
- Screenplay & Story
- Rui Zhang
- Original Score
- Qu Xiaosong
- Original Title
- 盗马贼
- Country of Origin
- China
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin, Tibetan
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Production Studios
- Xi'an Film Studio
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Tian Zhuangzhuang
Rui Zhang
Qu Xiaosong
Hou Yong, Zhao Fei
Jingzhong Li, Kezhi Li
Wu Tianming
Department Leadership Roster
Tian Zhuangzhuang
Director
Wu Tianming
Producer
Rui Zhang
Writer
Hou Yong
Director of Photography
Zhao Fei
Director of Photography
Xiaoping Xu
Costume Design
Jingzhong Li
Editor
Kezhi Li
Editor
Qu Xiaosong
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Horse Thief.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Horse Thief.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Horse Thief
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Horse Thief 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.
Who directed The Horse Thief?
The Horse Thief was directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang.
Who stars in The Horse Thief?
The principal cast of The Horse Thief includes Rigzin Tseshang, Jiji Dan, Jamco Jayang, Daiba, Drashi.
When was The Horse Thief released and how long is it?
The Horse Thief was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 28m.
Who composed the musical score for The Horse Thief?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Horse Thief was composed by Qu Xiaosong.