Tibet In Harlem 2
From the Maysles Institute website:
TIBET IN HARLEM 2: ORIGINS March 14–20, 2010 Presented by the Modern Tibetan Studies Program at Columbia University, Maysles Cinema, Machik and the Kham Film Project. Series Programmers: Robert Barnett, Lynn True, Nelson Walker.
“A remarkable renaissance has been quietly taking place within Tibet, almost completely unknown to the outside world: a group of largely self-taught Tibetan intellectuals and artists have suddenly emerged who are making films about Tibetans and Tibetan life. In the last five years, these directors, each of them working alone and without state support, have found new ways to show Tibetan culture and life on screen. Their filmic visions are nothing like those made in the west or in China. Led by the works of Padma Tseten, which stand in their own right as major films by any standard, this festival showcases the early works of some of these filmmakers as they search for new ways of talking about being Tibetan.”
– Robert Barnett, Director, Modern Tibetan Studies Program, Columbia University
Tibet in Harlem 2: Origins is the second annual series of Tibetan and Tibet-related films at the Maysles Cinema in Harlem. This year’s program showcases a collection of rarely screened early films – both documentary and fiction – by some of the most important Tibetan and Chinese filmmakers working in Tibet today.
Full description and schedule after the break.
In conjunction with Tibet in Harlem the Maysles Cinema will also present an exclusive Spotlight on Emerging Filmmakers. This special program, taking place March 22nd – 23rd, will showcase short films and works-in-progress by young Tibetan filmmakers currently living in France, India, Canada, and the United States.
Suggested Admission to all events: $12. Proceeds from each event will be contributed to NGOs and organizations working inside Tibet, including Rabsal, the Tibet Village Project and Machik.
Supported by: the Henry Luce Foundation, The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation and other organizations.
Sunday, Mar. 14, 7:00 pm
Prince of the Himalayas Dir. Sherwood Hu, 2006, 108 min., Director’s first feature on Tibet. Tibetan with English subtitles.
Setting Hamlet in a completely new context in early Tibetan history, Prince of the Himalayas is a visually ravishing historical epic that is richly suggestive of the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s tragedy for the modern world and the most successful example so far of artistic cooperation between a Chinese director and Tibetan writers (Dorje Tsering Chenaktshang and Tashi Dawa). Opening night reception to follow
Monday, Mar. 15, 7:30 pm
16 Barkor South Street Dir. Duan Jinchuan, 1996, 100 min. Tibetan and Chinese with English subtitles.
No.16, Barkor Street is an old courtyard in the heart of Lhasa and the site of the office of the Barkor Neighborhood Committee. This masterful cinema verité documentary, the landmark work in the history of independent documentaries about Tibet, is a photographic study of the basic workings of government in Tibet that follows the local Party Secretary, Deputy Director, Director for Women’s Affairs, and Community Policeman, among others, as they implement official policies and manage neighborhood affairs.
Tuesday, Mar. 16 7:30 pm
Tantric Yogi Dir. Dorje Tsering Chenaktsang 2007, 27 min., Director’s first documentary. Tibetan with English subtitles.
This documentary follows a Yogi and his fellow villagers as they travel through challenging territory to reach a rare gathering of thousands of lay tantric practitioners in Eastern Tibet. Narrated by Jim Broadbent.
Ani Lhacham Dir. Dorje Tsering Chenaktshang, 2005, 50 min.Tibetan with English subtitles.
When she was a child, Lhacham was eager to learn how to read and write. For economic reasons, her parents thought otherwise. She decided to run away to a nunnery in order to receive the education she was dreaming of. Dorje Tsering Chenaktsang follows her during a trip to the nearby town to get her tape recorder fixed. This recorder is her knowledge tool which she uses to learn Tibetan. The film is a tender and poetic portrait of Lhacham’s first journey into town.
Wednesday, Mar. 17 7:30 pm
The Silent Holy Stones Dir. Padma Tseten, 2005, 102 min., Director’s first feature. Tibetan with English subtitles.
The debut feature from the preeminent Tibetan filmmaker working today. The Silent Holy Stones is a restrained, unhurried story of a 10-year old Tibetan monk who has the chance to spend a few days at New Year with his family in their village a day’s horse-ride away. The boy’s journey to his village and back to the monastery bring to light the intertwined forces of westernization and consumerism that are a powerful presence even in a small Tibetan farming community.
Followed by Q & A with filmmaker Padma Tseten
Thursday, Mar. 18 7:30 pm
Milarepa Dir. Sonam, 2006, 95 min., Director’s first film. Tibetan with English subtitles.
A delightfully personal rendering of the story of Tibet’s best known and most respected yogi-poet, Milarepa, made by a self-taught director who wrote, lit, set and edited the entire film himself, using amateur actors in a remote Tibetan village. As a young man, Milarepa uses sorcery to murder his aunt and uncle who have stolen his family’s fortune. Later he regrets his actions and seeks out a famous lama, who submits his student to years of hardship before complete understanding can be achieved.
Friday, Mar. 19 7:30 pm
The Grassland Dir. Padma Tseten, 2004, 22 min. Director’s first film. Tibetan with English subtitles.
When an elderly woman’s yak goes missing, her husband is sure he knows who the culprits are, but the woman is more concerned about avoiding further suffering for the suspects. A careful and moving study of different views of resolving conflict in a nomadic community.
The Girl Lhari Dir. Rigdan Gyatso 2005, 25 min. Director’s first work. Tibetan with English subtitles.
Lhari is a young bride sent to a country village to live with her in-laws, who increasingly use her as a servant and even lock her out at night, with her husband not daring to intervene. Lhari decides to find her own, quintessentially Tibetan solution to her situation.
Followed by panel discussion with both filmmakers, Padma Tseten and Rigdan Gyatso, and a reception.
Saturday, Mar. 20 7:30 pm
The Search Dir. Padma Tseten, 2009, 112 min., Director’s second feature film. Tibetan with English subtitles.
A Tibetan film director travels from village to village across the country looking for an actor and an actress to star in his next film. He hears talk of people with the skills he needs, but they always seem to have just left or living somewhere else, as if he’s come too late. The Search is a road movie exploring a disappearing culture, taking the viewer straight into the heart of contemporary Tibet. This elegant film recently debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival and is the first ever to be shot entirely in Tibet in the Tibetan language by a local crew.
Q&A with filmmaker and closing night reception to follow.
***Spotlight on Emerging Filmmakers*** March 22–23, 2010 A showcase of short films and works-in-progress by young Tibetan filmmakers currently living in France, India, Canada, and the United States.
Monday, Mar. 22 7:30 pm
Short Film Showcase
Miss Taken Dir. Thupten Chakrishar, 2009, 6 min.
An experimental composition of site-specific vignettes based in Western Tibet’s remote Mount Kailash region, the source of Tibet’s Four Rivers.
History of Momos Dir. Tsenzin Tsetan Choklay, 2007, 11 min.
A Tibetan man living alone in Seoul, Korea remembers his real home far away in the Himalayas. With no friends and family around in this new city, food connects him to his past and his people.
Dramgnyen: The Lute Dir. Tashi Eugyal, 13 min.
A Tibetan immigrant family attempts to adjust to life in a new western society. As trained musicians, the parents are unable to secure “good” jobs in their new home. Kelsang, their only daughter, happens to be a musical prodigy herself. Her father disapproves of her choice.
Seeds Dir. Tenzin Dazel, 2009, 28 min.
Beautiful black and white 8mm film captures a day in the life of a group of young Tibetans in New Delhi — mostly call center workers and college students — as they navigate the challenges of the day, looming pressures of tomorrow and haunting echoes of years past.
Panel discussion with filmmakers and actors to follow
Tuesday, Mar. 23 7:30 pm
Four Rivers Dir. Tenzin Phuntsog, Unit Director Anders Uhl, 2010, 127 min.
**Special work in progress screening** An experimental composition of site-specific vignettes based in Western Tibet’s remote Mount Kailash region, the source of Tibet’s Four Rivers. Followed by Q&A with filmmakers
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