Customer Reviews

Tibetan Refugee [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the first film about Tibetan refugees where I actually hear their own story in their own voices. The people in the film have just arrived after walking over the Himalayas, and the filmmaker gives a tour of Dharamsala, India, where they arrive, as well as where they're blessed by the Dalai Lama. I was taken aback by the amount of children and monks who are forced to leave their homeland to learn how to read and write Tibetan. The Chinese government should be forced to watch this film. Bravo to the filmmakers, would like to know more about them.

Although only 30 minutes, proceeds from sale of the film go to the Tibetan Transit Center in Dharamsala. This film shows the experience Tibetans go through once they've escaped from Tibet. Inteviews with refugees with their tales of torture and forced sterilizations at the hand of the Chinese, includes footage of The Karmapa, The Dalai Lama, Grammy award winner Yungchen Lhamo (a former transit center refugee) and Robert Thurman. This video has been chosen by Amnesty Intl. for it's recent campaign for human rights in Tibet.

The Dalai Lamais one of the greatest leaders in our world today. This video gives a sincerely look at his life as a refugee from his homeland Tibet.

while the content might be of interest and the testimonials can be moving, the filmmaking style of this piece is non existant. This looks like a home movie style effort by someone who has never had experience with a video camera or editing. Heads cut to more heads cut to more heads and never a tripod is used. Of course, the effort is commendable and the content is valuable, but do not expect to buy this video and see anything resembling a "professional" production. It's strictly home movie masquerading as a production.