With such rare screenings of Tibetan American film perspectives, the last showing of Dreaming Lhasa is sure to garner much attention. As part of the 24th International Asian American Film Festival, the screening takes place on Wednesday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive (2575 Bancroft Way) in Berkeley.
Dreaming Lhasa, the first internationally recognized film to address the contemporary reality of Tibet-in-exile, follows the story of Karma (played by Tenzin Chokyi Gyatso), a Tibetan filmmaker from New York, who ends up being derailed from her documentary project in order to return a sacred amulet to a man named Loga.
Directed by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam whose subsequent film, The CIA in Tibet was featured at the 2002 film festival, Dreaming Lhasa beautifully captures the lofty landscape of Dharamsala and takes a few joyrides through more unfamiliar territories in Delhi and Jaipur. The film explores the fine line that Tibetan Americans face as westerners traveling to their ancestral homeland in order to find some connecting thread with Tibetan traditions.
Capturing the essence of east meeting west, Dreaming Lhasa offers an awesome soundtrack which includes a diverse set of music by The Skatalites, Cowboy Junkies, as well as dance music from Underworld and traditional Tibetan music by California-based Tibetan musician, Techung. Dreaming Lhasa successfully balances the long-standing issues of Tibets fight to regain its independence while introducing the artistic endeavors of its younger, more hip Tibetan generation who seem to have reluctantly inherited their cultures injustices. Actual interviews with ex-monks who had escaped Tibet for their roles in anti-Chinese activities reveal the intense political realities of this countrys enduring hardships to gain sovereignty.
The undying commitment to preserve Tibetan culture is embroidered throughout their community and Dreaming Lhasa is just one example that expresses this notion. Since the Tibetan uprising of March 1959, some Tibetans have been forced to live in exile in places throughout such places in India as Dharamsala and Nepal. The political unrest that has created a diaspora in the Tibetan community continues in the Tibetan region which makes films such as Dreaming Lhasa significant in bringing their stories across international borders and into western theatres. For detailed program information visit: www.asianamericanmedia.org
Upcoming Event
May 20 & 21, 2006
Himalayan Fair 2006, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
Authentic Himalayan arts & crafts, music, and dance. All profits from the Fair go to grassroots projects in the Himalayan Region.
www.himalayanfair.net
Tibetan Organization Links
Bay Area Friends of Tibet (BAFoT)
http://friends-of-tibet.org
Committee of 100 For Tibet
www.c100tibet.org
The Dalai Lama Foundation
www.dalailamafoundation.org
International Campaign For Tibet
www.savetibet.org
Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC)
www.tanc.org
Tibet Justice Center
www.tibetjustice.org
Tibetan Youth Congress
www.tibetanyouthcongress.org
Times of Tibet
www.timesoftibet.com
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