Tibet in Song

Tibet in Song is a 2009 documentary film written, produced, and directed by Ngawang Choephel. The film celebrates traditional Tibetan folk music while depicting the past fifty years of Chinese rule in Tibet, including Ngawang's experience as a political prisoner. The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival,[2][3]where it won the Special Jury Prize for World Cinema. It opened in theatres on September 24, 2010 in New York City.[4]

Tibet in Song
Ngawang Choephel (right) and a friend prepare a traditional song for 'Tibet in Song'.
Directed byNgawang Choephel
Produced byNgawang Choephel
Written byNgawang Choephel and Tara Steele
Edited byTim Bartlett
Production
company
Guge Productions
Distributed byNew Yorker Films
Release date
  • January 18, 2009 (2009-01-18) (Sundance)[1]
  • September 24, 2010 (2010-09-24) (United States)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Tibetan

Synopsis

Tibet in Song tells the story of Ngawang Choephel, a Tibetan exile and former Fulbright scholar at Middlebury College, who returns to Tibet in 1995 to videotape traditional music and dance.[5] The films follows his travels throughout the country recording music and understanding the impact of Chinese communist rule on Tibetan culture and everyday life. The movie contends that the Chinese authorities re-purposed traditional Tibetan music to forward their own agenda and propaganda.[6]

Production

Two months into the trip, after he'd sent a batch of material back to friends in India, Chinese intelligence agents arrested Choephel and confiscated his camera, notes, and videotape. He was convicted of spying, without a trial, and sentenced to 18 years in prison. While in prison he continued his research, transcribing songs from prisoners and eventually memorizing songs after his notes were confiscated.[7] His mother launched a tireless campaign for his freedom, and in January 2002, he was released.[8]

Reception

The film received positive reviews from critics and the Tibetan community in exile. On January 24, 2009 the film was awarded the Special Jury Prize for World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival and Ngawang Choephel became the first Tibetan to win an award at Sundance.[9]

Accolades

References
  1. "Tibet in Song". 22 January 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  2. "WMI PLUS 10th Anniversary Screening of "Tibet in Song" - World Music Institute". www.worldmusicinstitute.org. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  3. "2009 Sundance Film Festival Announces Awards". www.sundance.org. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. Genzlinger, Neil (September 23, 2010). "A Fight to Preserve Tibetan Music". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  5. "China Releases a Tibetan Scholar From Prison". New York Times. January 21, 2002. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  6. Semple, Kirk (September 22, 2010). "Tibetan Ex-Prisoner Evokes His Homeland's Struggle in a Movie". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  7. Semple, Kirk (September 22, 2010). "Tibetan Ex-Prisoner Evokes His Homeland's Struggle in a Movie". New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  8. "China Releases a Tibetan Scholar From Prison". New York Times. January 21, 2002. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  9. "2009 Sundance Film Festival Announces Awards". Sundance Institute. January 24, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
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