The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet's Struggle for Freedom - Directors Ritu Sarin, Tenzing Sonam

Synopsis: THE SUN BEHIND THE CLOUDS updates the struggle for Tibetan independence, focusing upon the March 2008 demonstration against Chinese rule, the largest ever since the 1959 take-over of that nation.... THE SUN BEHIND THE CLOUDS updates the struggle for Tibetan independence, focusing upon the March 2008 demonstration against Chinese rule, the largest ever since the 1959 take-over of that nation. The Dalai Lama, living in exile in Northern India, is interviewed extensively and given the opportunity to explicate his “middle way,” a compromise position he has to date been unsuccessful in getting the Chinese to accept. Supporters of Tibetan independence who are devoted to the Dalai Lama, but who nonetheless feel “the middle way” is an ineffective solution, appear in the film, detailing their more militant position. --© Film Forum
Sunairi: 監督の一人、Tenzing Sonam は非常にクールなインド語訛りの英語で状況を解説するがこれは客観的に伝える物語でなく、少しずつ少しずつダライラマ中心の仏教をコアとした考え方から、もっとグラスルーツ的なフリー・チベットの精神の方に趣が変わる。ダライラマのシーンは孤独、滑稽さ、そして無意味なひょうきんさを強調する場面が多く、チベット社会の嘆きとはなれて行くダライラマの姿を映し出す。しかしフリーチベットの若者たちの考え方は非常に見ててわかっていないようにも見える、「インドから中国へ歩いて平和的にプロテストをすることにより世界がフリーチベットに注目し」と熱く語る男性の考えはひょうきんに自己の散在のストレスをギャグにするダライラマと同じように私には滑稽に見えた。

私は現在、多くのチベット亡命の若者に会っている、米国という非常にまたもや極端な文脈の中でのインドから来た、悪い言い方でいえばナイーブな彼らの考えなども少し感じるところもある。多く感じることは、亡命チベット人たちの若者、亡命チベット人の親から生まれ、インドで生まれインドで育ち、親からの悔やみや怒りをフルに受け育った若者たちの気持ち、アイデンティティーは揺れている。

もし３−４年前にこの映画を見たら、中国に怒りを感じ、私も腕を上げて行進する意気だっただろう。今でも中国のやることなすこと多くは非常にあきれる、しかしこの微妙なアイデンティティーという土台の上で揺れ動く亡命チベット人の子供たちは、今はどうするべきなのか？いろんなことを考えさせる映画だった。

more films by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam
http://www.whitecranefilms.com/film/

"Tibet in Song" by Ngawang Choephel

A unique story of struggle and survival of Tibetan folk music. This beautiful film seamlessly traces the history of Tibetan music to the present day through Tibetans who most exemplify their struggle for cultural survival, but whose voices are routinely stifled by Chinese oppression. The beauty of traditional Tibetan folk music is showcased through a variety of working songs, songs about family and the beauty of the land. These rarely seen performances are deftly juxtaposed against startling footage of the early days of the Chinese invasion and the Dalai Lama's flight into exile in 1959. Tibetan musicians, singers, and political prisoners, including the film's director, Ngawang Choephel, all speak out and hearken the film's message of universal truth and responsibility.
Sunairi: 話は面白い展開で始まる。興味深いチベットの一般の人たちの歌うフォークミュージックをレコーディングしようと作者は旅をする。しかし、中国に何らかのスパイといわれ拷問を受け牢屋に入れられるところから映画は政治的なものに変わり、彼が初期にレコーディングした音楽は映画の中で全く見せず終わる。少しがっかりだった。映画試写会のときは監督が来て質問を受けたが、怒りに満ちた彼はもうもうとフリーチベットを語った。その後Ngawangと会ったが彼は僕の意見を聞き、僕の見解で仲間かどうかを聞くような態度だった。

"Unmistaken Child" Directed by Nati Baratz. With Tenzin Zopa

In Nepal, a venerable monk, Geshe Lama Konchog, dies and one of his disciples, a youthful monk named Tenzin Zopa, searches for his master's reincarnation. The film follows his search to the Tsum Valley where he finds a young boy of the right age who uncannily responds to Konchog's possessions. Is this the reincarnation of the master? After the boy passes several tests, Tenzin takes him to meet the Dali Lama. Will the parents agree to let the boy go to the monastery, and, if so, how will the child respond? Central to the film is the relationship the child develops with Tenzin.Sunairi: Beautiful film and beautiful culture.....fascinating I would say. As you can read the synopsis, this movie deals with soft and intriguing aspect of Tibetan Buddhism that in the process of it, question of authenticity arises in such an interesting way. Beyond of all, the boy who reincarnates from a venerable monk is so adorable. It is a bit like kidnapping under the respected tradition of Buddhism, so the religious institution and tradition can take a child away from his parents......and his father and mother so beautiful, a kind of poetic scene of handsome father deciding to say yes to helping all sentient beings by giving his baby boy up to Buddhist cause. How profound.......

The baby boy is just a baby even though he reincarnates his old self....a venerable monk, as he starts to acknowledge that he remembers his past and all, he gets excited by admirer giving him children toy such as plastic helicopters, toy cars and airplanes. It is so adorable and what a beautiful moment of culture that needs to be protected.

By the way, this film resembles "The Reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche" (directed by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sona)as my friend told me. http://www.whitecranefilms.com/film/reincarnate.html