Article Added On: April 08, 2005 - over 5 years ago
Title: Hope remains
Author: LIZ BRAUN
Publication: Toronto Sun
Publication Date: January 01, 2005 - over 5 years ago
Faith Groups: Buddhist
Themes: religion in the media

Abstract: A documentary film review.

April 8, 2005

ACCORDING TO the documentary What Remains Of Us, Tibet no longer appears on many maps of the world. The vanishing of a country, a people and a way of life has been achieved through ruthlessness within and indifference without. Many Tibetans have fled their homeland; 1.2 million others have "disappeared" since the Chinese first occupied the country in the 1950s.

What Remains Of Us is an ambitious film created in secret between 1996 and 2004. The film is narrated by a woman named Kalsang Dolma, a Tibetan born in a refugee camp. She grew up in Montreal. Her return to Tibet is to see for herself, "What remains of us," and with her she brings -- smuggles -- a recorded message from the Dalai Lama.

As she explains, you can go to jail, or worse, for following the teachings of the Dalai Lama. In the past, many nuns and priests were killed by Chinese soldiers, and the invading troops have destroyed thousands of holy places and monasteries.

The centre of What Remains Of Us is the showing of the Dalai Lama's message to various Tibetans. To witness the delight and amazement in the faces of his followers is deeply moving, to put it mildly. Dolma shows the five-minute message of hope to all manner of people -- shopkeepers in Lhasa, priests in remote monasteries, yak herders living in tents in the hills. This is the first message from the Dalai Lama that the people have been able to hear in 50 years. Some listeners have their faith renewed. A few are cynical -- too little, too late.

Tibetan culture is slowly being eradicated, and mostly via the ever-increasing influence of the west. The Chinese, over 50 years, have managed to introduce the worst of both communism and capitalism. Dolma calls the country both a gold mine and a dumping ground for China.

And yet the Tibetans maintain their peaceful stance, hewing to the anti-violent principles of Buddhism.

It would have been helpful for western viewers if What Remains Of Us had included a bit more information about what went before, as well as what is left, and particularly about the unique spirit of the people. The film, which is an NFB co-production, has won awards from coast to coast and was chosen one of Canada's Top 10 for 2004. Still, it leaves many questions unanswered. Maybe this one should be part of a double-bill and shown with Tibet: Cry Of The Snow Lion. Just a thought.

WHAT REMAINS OF US

1 hour, 17 minutes

Directors: Francois Prevost and Hugo Latulippe

Rated: G

BOTTOM LINE: More documentary footage about the plight of Tibetans today and well worth seeing, but the film feels a bit slim and incomplete.

PLOT: A woman named Kalsang Dolma smuggles a message of hope from the Dalai Lama into Tibet and shows it to the faithful. It is the first message from the Dalai Lama in 50 years, since the Chinese occupation of the country. The responses of the people will move you to tears.