An exile on the march in a new film about Tibet's fight against Chinese domination.By NEIL GENZLINGER
“The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom,” a documentary by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, is so awkwardly executed that at first it may come across as just another chorus of a familiar song: that Tibetans think they have been done terrible injustices by China.
“The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom,” a documentary by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, is so awkwardly executed that at first it may come across as just another chorus of a familiar song: that Tibetans think they have been done terrible injustices by China.
But pay close enough attention, and eventually another, entirely different theme emerges: the Dalai Lama may be losing his ability to keep the more radical elements of the free-Tibet movement in check.
The film looks at the protests against China that sprang up in 2008 in Tibet and among Tibetans living abroad, which coincided with the Chinese government’s efforts to improve its image as it prepared to host the summer Olympics.
The film looks at the protests against China that sprang up in 2008 in Tibet and among Tibetans living abroad, which coincided with the Chinese government’s efforts to improve its image as it prepared to host the summer Olympics.
The Dalai Lama long ago backed away from calling for independence for Tibet, which has been under Chinese control for half a century, instead endorsing a so-called middle way that emphasizes preservation of culture. But many of the protesters wanted a return to a more militant stand.
The filmmakers, chronicling the Dalai Lama’s somewhat muddled attempts to respond to the protesters’ calls while not antagonizing China, do a fair amount of muddling themselves.
The filmmakers, chronicling the Dalai Lama’s somewhat muddled attempts to respond to the protesters’ calls while not antagonizing China, do a fair amount of muddling themselves.
They lurch awkwardly between reverence for the Dalai Lama and hints that he has become, politically, irrelevant or an obstacle.
Western viewers, accustomed to a less timid style of documentary, may come away from this one feeling that it only scratches the surface of a complex issue.
Western viewers, accustomed to a less timid style of documentary, may come away from this one feeling that it only scratches the surface of a complex issue.
The presence of this film at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January caused China to withdraw two movies from that event, but the documentary is as much a challenge to the Dalai Lama as it is to the Chinese.
The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom Opens on Wednesday in Manhattan. Directed by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam; written and narrated by Mr. Sonam; directors of photography, Graham Day, Jaimie Gramston, Mr. Sonam, Stephen McCarthy, John Sergeant, Dilip Varma and Tensin Tsetan Choklay; edited by Anupama Chandra, Mahadeb Shi and Mr. Sonam; music by Gustavo Santolalla; produced by Ms. Sarin; released by Balcony Releasing.
At Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street, west of Avenue of the Americas, South Village.
In English, Tibetan and Mandarin, with English subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 19 minutes. This film is not rated
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