by Jessica Mosby
–USA–
The Chinese have ruled Tibet since 1959. For Tibetan refugees living around the world, the dream of returning to a free Tibet continues to define their existence in exile.
The new documentary film The Sun Behind the Clouds captures the plight of Tibetan refugees and their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, with a very personal approach. Filmmaker Tenzing Sonam, who also narrates the film, was born to Tibetan refugee parents living in Darjeeling, India. He and his filmmaking partner and wife, Ritu Sarin, approach their subject matter with insiders’ knowledge.
For viewers who know nothing of Tibet or its modern history under Chinese rule, the documentary provides a thorough introduction to the political and cultural situation. The Chinese invaded Tibet in 1950 with a brutality that had not been previously known on the Tibetan plateau. By 1959, China had taken complete control of Tibet as the Dalai Lama fled to Dharamshala, India along with large numbers of his followers.
The filmmakers focus the documentary on the March 2008 demonstrations in Tibet, the largest uprising since the Chinese rule began fifty years ago. For Tibetan refugees living abroad, their discontent manifested in protests against China hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. As the Olympic torch traveled the world, Sonam and Sarin capture Tibetan refugees and supporters clashing with Chinese students and advocates.
The Sun Behind the Clouds prominently features the Dalai Lama in interviews and footage of his international diplomacy visits to Western leaders. The Dalai Lama has given up the fight for Tibet’s independence. He now supports a “Middle Way Approach,” which advocates abandoning the fight for independence in exchange for China giving Tibet cultural autonomy. This controversial stance has divided the international Tibetan community. Many younger Tibetans take a more militant approach and are not willing to compromise in their fight for independence.
The filmmakers do an exceptional job of capturing the tension between the two groups during interviews with Tibetans on both sides of the issue, and yet they never undermine the dissenters’ devotion to the Dalai Lama as their spiritual leader. Unity amongst the Tibetans worldwide is the paramount objective, be it through support of the Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way Approach” or the eventual achievement of a free Tibet.
Sonam and Sarin were recently in San Francisco to promote the theatrical opening of The Sun Behind the Clouds in San Francisco and Berkeley. During their visit, I sat down with them to discuss the film, the plight of Tibetan refugees around the world, and the very personal nature of the documentary. The documentary is currently in theaters in Northern California and is available for DVD purchase on the film’s website.
What was the impetus to make a film about Tibet?
Ritu Sarin: Fifty years were coming up since the Dalai Lama had been exiled and been in India, and since the takeover of Tibet by the Chinese. We felt it was an important moment. We should look into what the current political situation is, what the possible scenarios for the future are, and how the movement could go on. We thought it was just an important time to look at this.
Tenzing Sonam: That was the main impetus. The timing, and the fact that the 50th anniversary of the fall of Tibet were coming up. The situation in Tibet was as bad as ever. We felt we should really take a hard look at what was going on.
Why did you choose to focus the film around the March 2008 demonstrations against Chinese rule?
Ritu Sarin: Actually, when we started the film it was before the demonstrations took place. As we were filming, the demonstrations took place, it just seemed really important. They were amazing. It was amazing that those demonstrations happened the way they did. The fact that we heard voices from Tibet asking for independence and really protesting against Chinese rule in the way that they did, and so we incorporated that into the film.
Tenzing Sonam: When we started making the film, we had no idea that the demonstrations would take place – no one had any idea. Once we were in the middle of the film, and they did happen, we felt we had to follow them and incorporate them into the story.
The film does a great job of balancing the Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way Approach,” with the more militant positions of younger Tibetans. How did you balance these two viewpoints?
Tenzing Sonam: That was a very difficult task that we faced. Firstly, even though as it’s becoming clearer and clearer that China is not interested in dealing with the Dalai Lama, and that despite his best efforts to compromise and give up Tibetan independence, they are not taking him seriously. Basically, they are waiting for him to pass away. Although this is something that is becoming increasing clearer – and a lot of Tibetans feel in their hearts that maybe it’s time for a different approach, and maybe going back to the goal of independence should be considered – it’s not something that is discussed much openly in the Tibetan community. Mainly because the Dalai Lama is our spiritual leader; all Tibetans are devoted to him. And it’s very difficult for anyone to challenge him, even politically, because that person would immediately be seen as someone who is against the Dalai Lama. So within the Tibetan community it is difficult for differing opinions to express themselves.
For us the challenge was to find people who would talk openly about what they felt, which actually represents the views of many Tibetans. To present it in a way where it wouldn’t be like factions banging their heads against each other. There is a lot of respect. These people all support the Dalai Lama. But it’s a difference of political strategy.
Was it difficult to find people who were publicly willing to speak out against the Dalai Lama and his political views?
Tenzing Sonam: In the past, even ten years ago, it would have been quite difficult to find people willing to speak out publicly. Even ten years ago the atmosphere within the Tibetan community was much more closed in that sense. Partly because the Dalai Lama himself has been promoting democracy among the Tibetan people, and encouraging them to be more democratic. And partly because the situation in Tibet itself has now really deteriorated and it’s become clear that China’s not interested [in negotiating with the Dalai Lama]. I think that’s made more and more people willing to speak up. I wouldn’t say that it was particularly difficult to find people who were ready to speak out. What do you think, Ritu?
Ritu Sarin: I think it is because we’re engaged in the community, so we know all of these people. So, in that sense it wasn’t like we were going to fresh people. We know these people, and we have a relationship with them. I think that was the other reason they were able to speak to us so frankly. They know that we’re not trying to misrepresent them in any way. We’re genuinely trying to portray the situation and their point of view.
I was struck by this idea that there might not be a Tibet to return to, or at least the same Tibet that refugees left. It’s an imagined community, of sorts. What is your opinion on this: Can the displaced return to Tibet?
Tenzing Sonam: Firstly, we have to remember that the numbers of Tibetans who are in exile, who are outside of Tibet, are about 200,000, whereas the population of the entire Tibetan plateau is about six million Tibetans. So, we the exiled Tibetans make up a very small portion of Tibetans in general. In a sense it doesn’t matter whether we go back or not. At the moment it’s important that there’s an exile community because it keeps the whole question of Tibet alive.
But if a day were to arrive and Tibet was free, and people could choose to return or not, I think a lot of people would return and a lot of people would choose not to. What’s happened in Tibet since 1959 is it’s become a completely different place. They’ve lived under the Chinese. In a sense, it’s the Tibetans who are in Tibet who would have a greater say in what goes on in Tibet.
As a Tibetan living in exile, how is this story very personal for you?
Tenzing Sonam: For all Tibetan exiles who grew up in exile, from the time we were kids we were brought up believing we would go back to Tibet one day, and that the reason we were in exile was that we had to flight for Tibet’s independence. That was something all of us were all bought up with. We never felt like we belonged to the places that we lived in. It was just temporary; we were all going to go back to Tibet someday.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jessica Mosby is a writer and critic living in Oakland, California. In the rare moments when she’s not traveling across the United States for work, Jessica enjoys listening to public radio, buying organic food at local farmers markets, trolling junk stores, and collecting owl-themed tchotchke.
Leave a Reply