Movie Night in The Ganj - What Remains of Us

It´s packed in Yongling school hall this evening for McLeod Ganj´s premier of this great documentary from 2004. As usual, the viewing is again somewhat disjointed, with 2 power-cuts and a faulty sound system to negotiate.

This documentary is beautiful in its simplicity. It follows a 2nd Generation Tibetan woman, Kalsang Dolma who manages to sneak into Tibet with a portable DVD player and a 5 minute message delivered by HH Dalai Lama.

Of course, in colonially governed Tibet, people are jailed for possession of a mere photo of Dalai Lama.

Dolma plays the DVD to family, friends, monks and yak herders in remote wilderness and their reactions and thoughts are shared to camera. No wonder the Toronto Sun describes it as a tear-jerker – it´s really emotive.

Whether young or old, the intent that viewers watch the brief dvd, often in tears and/or prayer. After all HHDL is a Living God to them. On completion of the message, most viewers are left completely speechless and Dolma often has to push them to share their thoughts.

In the message to his people, Dalai Lama asks Tibetans to be strong. He points to increasing global recognition of the plight of Tibetans and the respect that has been won for adopting a policy of non-violence. He even adds a special message to young Tibetans – don´t drink and smoke.

Most of the Tibetans talk about powerlessness. The Chinese are too strong and they are very much aware of their own witness to their own cultural genocide. They talk about the light that Dalai Lama would bring if he were to return to Tibet, but also understand that his safety would be compromised by doing so.

Dolma makes a very interesting observation. She claims that Tibetans in Tibet believe that the Chinese occupation of Tibet was karma for not praying enough, whilst Dloma and other 2nd generation Tibetans in exile felt the people lost Tibet because all they would do is pray.

One has to admire the bravery of all concerned; Dolma for bringing in and publically showing the Dalai Lama DVD or for these Tibetans who openly share their thoughts to camera at risk of beatings, arrest, brutality and torture.

With gorgeous landscapes, haunting Tibetan music, plenty of wrinkly Tibetans and prostrating pilgrims, this is a classic 76 minutes. Don´t just take my word for it, it won Best Documentary at the 2004 Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala.