Dreaming of Tibet

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In isolated communities around the world, particularly in India, Nepal and the United States, Tibetan exiles have created a 'virtual Tibet,' where they have endured and even flourished in the face of overwhelming adversity. DREAMING OF TIBET follows their arduous journeys from Tibet into exile over a 19,000 foot Himalayan pass. It's a flight that the Dalal Lama took in 1958 and over 150,000 of his followers have taken since then. Most have only minimal clothing and meager provisions to make the life-threatening trek. Many die along the way.

This intimate documentary is about the resilience of the human spirit under the most dire circumstances. The film looks at the lives of three extraordinary Tibetan exiles who have survived in exile and are deeply involved in working for the survival of their culture. They are, in short, Ms. Tseten Phanucharas, a political activist, who is one of the Dalai Lama's press coordinators in Los Angeles; Ms. Tsering Lhamo, a nurse working with recent refugees in Kathmandu, Nepal; and Mr. Ngawang Ugyen, a monk in the Mt. Everest foothills.

DREAMING OF TIBET captures the difficult challenges they each face and conveys the sense of hope they bring to their day-to-day lives in spite of great hardship and loss.

Also features His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and author/climber Jon Krakauer, with appearances by actors Richard Gere and Goldie Hawn.

'A story of the resilience of the human spirit -- in this case a collective spirit that exemplifies the Buddhist ideal of universal love and compassion.' Honolulu Advertiser

'A beautiful, poignant film that will speak to viewers on many levels.' Ka Leo O Hawai'i

'Beatifully photographed, lyrical film.' Marin Independent Journal

'An intimate portrait.' San Francisco Chronicle

'Parrinello's touching portrait of these Tibetans pleads with us to never forget.' Oakland Tribune

'Dreaming of Tibet is recommended for any secondary school or adult audience that has never seen realistic examples of Tibetan culture and the stresses encountered by refugees.' Charles Greenberg, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library, Yale University, Electronic Media Reviews Online

'Engaging...lovingly presented...An important addition to collections.' School Library Journal

'Dreaming of Tibet...is a strong piece of advocacy for Tibetan sovereignty. Recommended.' Video Librarian

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Main credits

Parrinello, Will (film producer)
Parrinello, Will (film director)
Parrinello, Will (editor of moving image work)
Antonelli, John (film producer)
Antonelli, John (screenwriter)
Coyote, Peter (narrator)

Other credits

Director of photography, Anthony Black.

MARC Record See Worldcat record

Keywords

Tibetan exiles, India, Nepal, Dalai Lama, Himalayas, human spirit, cultural survival, Tseten Phanucharas, Tsering Lhamo, Kathmandu, Ngawang Ugyen, Mt. Everest, Jon Krakauer, Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn; "Dreaming of Tibet"; Bullfrog Films

Dreaming of Tibet

Fine Cut Transcription

1:00:00:00 - OPENING MONTAGE

1:00:47:27 - GRAPHIC: KATHMANDU, Nepal

NARRATION: Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, nearly 200,000 Tibetans have left their country, their families, and everything they hold dear, as they search for ways to regroup, rebuild their communities, and redefine themselves outside of their homeland.

In isolated regions around the world, they’ve created a virtual Tibet where they’ve managed to survive and even flourish as a people and a culture in the face of overwhelming adversity.

1:01:49:00 - TITLE: DREAMING OF TIBET

GRAPHIC: LOS ANGELES, CA

EXT. TSETEN PHANUCHARAS @ SANTA MONICA CENTER - WATCHING HIP-HOP DANCERS

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO and on Camera (with title): Once you’ve lost your country you always feel like you’re neither fish nor fowl. And it’s something I don’t think you can every really recapture, you know, the sense of true belonging…

1:02:10:15 - GRAPHIC: TSETEN PHANUCHARAS, L.A. Friends of Tibet

…in the way that if you had your own country, you would feel.

Music Cue

EXT. LOS ANGELES SPORTS ARENA

VOLUNTEER: End of the line, that direction.

(PEOPLE ENTERING ARENA)

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO: Since 1979 His Holiness Dalai Lama has been here, I think this year was the 10^th time.

GRAPHIC: “ILLUMINATING THE PATH” DALAI LAMA TEACHING

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO: I’ve been involved in every one of those visits.

PRE-PRESS CONFERENCE

1:02:52:25 - TALKING TO REPORTER: He will be leaving on Saturday but the teaching will be going through Friday the 30th. Will you be working every day? (LAUGHS) Yes, I’ll be working every day.

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO: I’ve been working on the public relations, the media relations. This last visit in June I helped to organize the press conference.

TSETEN TALKS TO LA TIMES REPORTER: Are you in charge of choosing the people? Yeah. (LAUGHS) OK, will you choose me?

All right, OK.

GRAPHIC: PRESS CONFERENCE OMNI HOTEL

TSETEN'S SOUND CHECK AND INTRO: Thank you. That’s good, That’s good, Thank you. Testing, testing, good. It’s my great honor and pleasure as a Tibetan to introduce His Holiness, The Dalai Lama.

USA TODAY REPORTER: Could you talk about your daily life?

GRAPHIC: (DALAI LAMA’S RESPONSES ARE SUBTITLED)

DALAI LAMA: 3:30, morning I get up. My Christian spiritual brother, the late Thomas Merton, his daily routine, morning - 2:30 he got up. One hour earlier than me, so I can not compete with him. (LAUGHTER)

TSETEN VO and On Camera: Last year I remember him saying when I was introduced as the person who had done the media coordination, he said, 1:03:58:26 - “You?” and, he looked at me like he was really pleased that a Tibetan ... because there’s no concept of media in Tibet, it’s a foreign concept. For a Tibetan to be able to do this I think His Holiness was really pleased, you know and proud.

TSETEN FIELDS QUESTION FROM THE PRESS: OK, go ahead.

S. AFRICAN REPORTER: The Chinese Government for many years has had a very strong policy of trying to get every government in the world, every major organization not to invite you and I want to know what your comment on that is, why they’re doing it and what you feel about it?

DALAI LAMA: Of Course I think the Chinese government considers me a counter revolutionary and almost like evil one, evil.... (speaks in Tibetan) devil, devil... (laughs).

TSETEN VO and On Camera: Individualism as we know it here in the West is not a concept that is espoused or actually encouraged because you tend to think more of the group, of the community.

DALAI LAMA: Whatever you call autonomy or independence that is something... (FADE sound under)

TSETEN VO: Americans are not afraid to speak up and to stand out.

1:05:10:27 - GRAPHIC: Dalai Lama Public Address on Universal Responsbility

BACKSTAGE AT LA SPORTS ARENA

TSETEN GREETS GOLDIE HAWN

TSETEN: Hi!

GOLDIE: Hi, how are you?

TSETEN: I’m going to be introducing you, OK?

GOLDIE: Oh, thank you.

TSETEN: Is it OK if I call you Miss? Ms? Goldie Hawn.

GOLDIE: Miss. Goldie Hawn. OK, thank you.

TSETEN VO: I’m amazed that people will go on TV and tell the most intimate details of their lives; a Tibetan couldn’t imagine doing that.

TSETEN TALKS WITH EVENT COORDINATOR: I’ll try to do some interviews if I can and then I’ll come out.

OK, Thanks.

TSETEN VO: And in general Tibetans will not put themselves forward as spokespersons and so forth, and in some ways I think it does hurt our community.

TSETEN TALKS WITH GOLDIE HAWN BACKSTAGE

TSETEN: I don’t know how you do this for a living? It’s, it’s... I’m just saying a very short thing but, you know, it’s hard.

GOLDIE: It’s hard... it is hard... I must admit! (LAUGHTER)

TSETEN VO and On Camera: Just out of necessity I’ve learned to speak up because the story of Tibet and what’s going on there is so compelling that I’ve sacrificed, if you want to call it that, my own shyness and reticence that is natural and normal for a Tibetan.

STAGE MANAGER: Let’s start this one. Tseten’s going to come out.... now! You ready?

Tseten: Yes.

TSETEN WALKS ONTO STAGE @ LA SPORTS ARENA

Good evening and welcome on behalf of Thupten Darjeeling and Geshe Gyeltsen it’s my honor and pleasure to welcome you this evening and wish you Tashi Delek which is a Tibetan greeting. (APPLAUSE)

CU OF MONKS - SOUNDS OF HORNS -

- Dissolves to:

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF DALAI LAMA PROCESSION - OLD LHASA, TSTEN’S DAD TRAVELING - COMMUIST CHINESE ARMY

TSETEN VO and On Camera: I was born in Lhasa, Tibet and my parents owned a store and we actually lived above the store. And my father traveled quite a bit. Communism had just come to China and he was really struck by the misery of the Chinese people... the fear that they lived in... the complete upheaval of the Chinese society. So that’s how my father got an inkling of what was to come to Tibet. And my father started to feel uneasy that, you know there’s rumblings of war and they packed up and we came to India.

1:07:51:05 - GRAPHIC: 1958

NEW MUSIC CUE and EARLY FAMILY PHOTOS

Tseten Phanucharas: I don’t think any Tibetan, as naive as it may sound now, thought that we would loose the country... you know that there’d be a long struggle because Tibet had never been conquered by another country per se.

TANKS ROLL INTO LHASA and other ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF COMMUNIST INVASION

Tseten Phanucharas: And of course by March ’59, Tibet was lost. It had to be the most devastating day I think in my lifetime and that even includes the death of my father. But, uh, when we heard that His Holiness had fled Tibet and for the next two weeks we did not know what had happened to him, uh, there was all this Chinese propaganda over the radio saying that he had fallen off a cliff and had died and we really believed that. And there was this great mourning going on but then out of the blue one day we hear he’s arrived in India and that was like the most amazing thing.

1:09:10:09 - PHOTO OF DALAI LHAMA AT INDIAN BORDER -

Fade to black: then up on footage of Dalai Lama in India

Dissolve to: THUPTEN CHOLING MONASTERY SCENES -

GRAPHIC: Mt. Everest Region, Nepal

NARRATION: Of all the exiles, scattered from Nepal to the United States, none are more affected by the Chinese occupation of Tibet than Buddhist monks and nuns, driven from their monasteries, as their ancient sacred structures and religious artifacts have been destroyed.

Their belief in Buddhism and in the Dalai Lama have helped them to persevere.

SCENES OF LIFE AT THUPTEN CHOLING MONASTERY

GRAPHIC: NGAWANG SANGPO, THUPTEN CHOLING MONASTERY

We came to Nepal in 1960, shortly after the Chinese occupation began.

Troops came to our monastery before we escaped but they weren’t imposing their ideology on us at the time. They said, “You can do whatever you like, we’re only here to protect you.” Slowly, we learned that monks and nuns in other regions were being arrested and imprisoned.

Once we heard that His Holiness, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet, we too decided to go.

Many of the monks and nuns who couldn’t escape from our monastery were eventually arrested.

NARRATION: Tibetans are predominantly Buddhist. This enlightened perspective helps them to accept the foreign occupation of their country.

1:10:57:01 - DISSOLVE TO: BOUDHNA STUPPA - MONKS CIRCUMAMBULATING THE MONASTERY

GRAPHIC: NGAWANG UGYEN THUPTEN, CHOLING MONASTERY

VO: We Tibetans believe in karma. Which in very simple terms I think it means the life you are living now is the result of your past lives and things you have done.

We feel that there’s a reason this happened, we look beyond the Chinese occupation. We feel that we must have done a lot of misgivings in the past as a country, so we deserve it and we should face it and we should get over it and hope.

So, in that way you’ll notice that a lot of Tibetans are tolerant. We’re not as volatile as other people. In times of difficulty Tibetans just take things as they are and try to understand them.

NGAWANG PRAYING IN HIS HOME, HOLDING KITTENS

I except being in exile as a way of life... and not that it has been unfair or that I am the unlucky one. For me, I take it as an inspiration.

Fade to Black

1:13:01:15 - RICHIE HAVENS MUSIC - TRANSITION TO ARCHIVAL PHOTO’S OF TSETEN AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY

TSETEN VO and On Camera: In 1964, when I came to the United States, there were probably a dozen Tibetans altogether. Even fewer going to college.

It was a huge culture shock for me because I came from a school where kindergarten through high school was 350 students, and here I go to a university that’s 12,000 students.

GRAPHIC: Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Just sort of being lost in the sea of humanity was very difficult for me. I felt odd because there was no other Tibetans and I related to the other foreign students.

One of the reasons why I like living in California is because of the large number of Asians. You don’t stick out like a sore thumb…

1:14:06:29 - GRAPHIC: TSETEN PHANUCHARAS, L.A. Friends of Tibet

…and that’s this feeling of comfort that I have, as opposed to the Midwest because there I felt odd. Even though no one ever made me feel odd, I just did, just because I didn’t look like anyone else.

NEW MUSIC CUE: - Montage EARLY PHOTOS OF FAMILY IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

TSETEN VO: A few years later one of my brothers came to go to college and then another sister. For me it was a great thing that the whole family came.

PHOTO - TSETEN WITH HER EX-HUSBAND

When I lived alone or with my husband who was not Tibetan it was just as easy not to observe the customs, just because I didn’t have a community around me.

NEW MUSIC CUE: LOS ANGELES MONTAGE -

EXT. TSETEN, MOM & BROTHER ARRIVE AT NEPHEWS BIRTHDAY PARTY

The birthday present’s here.

Oh, yeah.

INT. FAMILY LOOKING AT PHOTOS

Tseten: Well, I can’t wait to see what this one looks like. Who’s this?

Other brother: This is, ah, a Tibetan girl. Her name is... (FADE sound)

TSETEN VO: This country is such a melting pot that a sense of being Tibetan is much easier to be lost here than say the exile community in India and Nepal.

If you go to anyplace in India where there’s a group of Tibetans you would really not know that they’re that much different from the old Tibet.

FAMILY SINGS HAPPY BIRTHDAY - NEPHEW BLOWS OUT CANDLES

TSETEN VO: In this country because we are so spread out and because we cannot live in a community I’m afraid that within another generation or two there’d be no trace of being Tibetan.

1:16:02:09 - NEPHEW PLAYS WITH REMOTE CONTROL SKATEBOARD NINJA

DISSOLVE TO:

TSETEN AND MOM WALK FROM HOME TO POOL – BROTHER SERVES TEA.

CUT TO:

TIBETAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

TSETEN VO: Once my parents moved here, it really helped us to remember the customs and for us to carry it on, such as celebrating Tibetan New Years, which we have faithfully done every year since they’ve been here.

NEW MUSIC CUE - TIBETAN NEW YEAR ALTER MONTAGE

TSETEN VO: : They tell us how to do things properly and all the customs that go with it and there’s a lot of ritual that Tibetans are famous for.

MOM BLESSING ALTER THEN KITCHEN

SYNCH SOUND: Hi, Tashi Delek - Happy New Year to you. Make a wish, make a wish!

Wishing you good health.

TSETEN VO: Having them around to give us the details, helping us maintain the customs, speaking the language, but a third element, even more important than culture per se is Buddhism. The moral and ethnical concepts that Buddhism brings.

MOM CONTINUES BLESSING - IN PRAYER ROOM

TSETEN VO and On Camera: The greatest influence they’ve had on me and I think my brothers and sisters is their sense of compassion and caring... you know, thinking about someone else before you think about yourself.

Tibetan prayers always go, may suffering end for all sentient beings. You don’t go, I hope tomorrow I get this. You don’t personalize your prayers in that way. So that there’s sort of a much more global view.

TSETEN AND IN-LAWS PERFORM CHANG BLESSING & RICE BLESSING

Brother: May we see you next year in Lhasa. May we see you many, many years.

1:18:19:29 - TSETEN VO and On Camera: That, I think, is a really big part of what makes Buddhism unique.

TSETEN AND BROTHER PERFORM BLESSING WITH INFANT

TSETEN DRIVING TO PROTEST RALLY

TSETEN VO and On Camera: Doing something for Tibet, helping and remembering is critical. Because I’ve been incredibly fortunate in the life that I’ve had... but how could I forget the people who are in Tibet. The urgency, this sense of we’ve got to do something as soon as possible.

MAKING PROTEST SIGNS -

NEW MUSIC & DISSOLVE TO:

REFUGEES WALKING OVER GLACIAL PASS

SEQUENCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE ESCAPING OVER MTN. PASS

NARRATION: During the winter, as many as 750 Tibetans flee into exile each month. Since the Chinese Occupation in 1959 an estimated 100,000 Tibetans have settled in India, 30,000 in Nepal, 11,000 in North America, and another 4,000 in Europe.

DISSOLVE TO: MAP OF NEPAL - PULL OUT TO REVEAL INDIA & CHINA.

JON KRAKAUER VO: Tibetans make this really dangerous journey over the Nang Pa-la, this high pass just west of Everest. People die regularly of pulmonary edema at that altitude and lower.

DISSOLVE TO: FEET WALKING ON GLACIER

Sub zero cold, howling winds, rock, and snow and ice. Their feet are frozen.

GRAPHIC: JON KRAKAUER, AUTHOR/CLIMBER, “INTO THIN AIR”

JON KRAKAUER ON CAMERA: A Modern climbers and all his gear would find that challenging, very challenging. Um, all the down gear in the world, heavy plastic boots and here’s people in canvas tennis shoes and rags making their way across.

1:20:12:15 - LONG LENS SHOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ON GLACIER

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO and On Camera: You would think that after all these years China would realize that they’ve already got it under control and they don’t need to treat the people any worse... but in reality the reports coming out of Tibet say it’s like the second cultural revolution.

They are making midnight raids on ordinary households. If you had a picture of the Dalai Lama you could get arrested.

MUSIC UP

YOUNG PEOPLE WALK DOWN GLACIER

JON KRAKAUER VO: You know life is hard in that part of the world. It’s just, things we take for granted, just basic rights, they don’t exist there. Nothing’s given to you. Nothing, no freedom of speech, no freedom of anything.

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO: The situation is getting worse and worse and that’s what frustrates me, that the world at large seems so in love with the idea of trade with China that we’re willing to put aside all other considerations.

MUSIC UP FULL

NARRATION: Many Tibetans leave their families and everything else that matters to them in order to make a new life for themselves in far off lands.

NEW MUSIC CUE

MONKS AND NUNS WALK THROUGH TRESS

NARRATION: Their parents send them to get an education but most feel forced to leave because of a never ending sense of alienation and discrimination. Many of the exiles are teenagers who have the strength to make the life threatening trek across the 19,000 foot Nang Pa-La pass. For those who survive, they bring very little with them but an overwhelming sense of sadness and loss – and a desire to see the Dalai Lama.

MUSIC UP: REFUGEES WALKING THRU HILLS

CU FEET OF YOUNG REFUGEES WALKING THRU MOUNTAINS

1:22:05:29 - GRAPHIC: TIBETAN REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTER KATHMANDU, NEPAL

JON KRAKAUER VO: They come down into Nepal where they’re not really welcome because the Tibetans create all kinds of problems for the government. The Nepalese would just as soon that they go back!

GROUP OF RECENT REFUGEES SITTING, CRYING, TALKING

YOUNG REFUGEE TRANSLATION: It’s very painful for us to live under Chinese rule.

1:22:27:09 - GRAPHIC: Recent refugees ages 9-21

YOUNG REFUGEE TRANSLATION: We have no freedom to live our lives as we should be able to. We have all seen and heard about the many atrocities that have happened to our people. The Chinese population is taking over our country and we have no choice but to tolerate it. The Chinese are so much more powerful. The situation is equally bad for young and old. We are all hoping for freedom and praying for the Dalai Lama to do something that might help our cause.

NEW MUSIC CUE:

REFUGEES INSIDE RECEPTION CENTER

JON KRAKAUER VO and on Camera: The Tibetan reception Center in Kathmandu takes them in, sort of processes them, gets them back on their feet, tries to restore them to health.

It’s this little island of Tibet, crowded, you know and there’s over worked staff. When I was there, there was one nurse treating all these people...

and this is what they’ve got, and it’s not much, to help them.

NURSE TSERING LHAMO ENTERS MEDICAL CLINIC GATE

TSERING LHAMO VO & ON CAMERA: My job is to take care of all the clinics. We have about 15 in the settlements.

I have seen a lot of children coming from Tibet. There are political prisoners who’ve been tortured, but another major problem is frostbite.

They tell us that in wintertime the rivers are frozen,

1:22:27:09 - GRAPHIC: TSERING LHAMO, HEALTH COORDINATOR, TIBETAN GOVT. IN EXILE

…even the mountains, the snows are frozen so it’s easier for them to walk on.

NEW MUSIC CUE - SCENE OF REFUGEES WALKING IN SNOWSTORM

JON KRAKAUER VO & ON CAMERA: It almost brings tears to your eyes. These are people who have risked everything to come here. Things are so grim for them in Tibet.

1:24:37:25 - GRAPHIC: JON KRAKAUER, AUTHOR/CLIMBER, “INTO THIN AIR”

They wait until winter because they’re less likely to be shot by the Chinese or by the Nepalese army.

SNOW SCENES

NURSE TSERING LHAMO: Group of 22 came from Tibet. They had about 10 children and it seems that one person could not walk, he was a bit sick. So they had to stop one night somewhere.

JON KRAKAUER VO: If they don’t keep moving they die, they freeze to death and many of them do. But they want so badly to preserve the Tibetan way of life. They’re so impressed with the Dalai Lama, they want to be part of that community... they risk everything.

NURSE TSERING LHAMO: And the next morning when they got up, two young men were frozen to death.

When they got up, they found them dead!

MUSIC UP FULL

NURSE TSERING LHAMO: And out of ten children, five, they died in the snow because they did not have any food or anything to drink, you know?

REFUGEES BEING FED

NURSE TSERING LHAMO: To work in such a place is not easy but you need a lot of dedication, devotion, loving.

NURSE TREATING REFUGEES IN CLINIC

Whatever I am now I think because of my childhood. I had a difficult childhood so I want to work hard to be able to help people do something, you know?

1:26:19:19 - FADE TO BLACK

NEW MUSIC CUE

FADE UP ON SCENES OF CHINESE ATTACKING MONASTERY

NURSE TSERING LHAMO VO: My father was imprisoned by the Chinese in 1959. He was the leader of the village where we lived.

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF CULTURAL REVOLUTION

TSERING LHAMO VO & ON CAMERA: That very day 15 of them were caught. Their hands and legs were tied together and all the family members were asked to come and see it and all the other people come and throw mud or stones or dust on his eyes and some kicked on him and some pulled his hair. And everybody had to see that.

And we have never seen them since then... yeah... yeah.

MOURNFUL MUSIC - PHOTO’S OF DEAD

NARRATION: According to the Dalai Lama’s government in exile, over 1.2 million died as a result of the invasion.

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF CRYING AND SAD TIBETANS

TSERING LHAMO VO: And mother died in her early thirties. She died of depression.

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF TIBETANS TREKING THROUGH SNOW

TSERING LHAMO VO & ON CAMERA: And I’m brought to India by my aunt.

She left her own daughter in Tibet and brought me and my brother to India.

I was carried on my aunt’s back and brother was carried by uncle.

NEW MUSIC CUE

Fade to black

1:27:43:05

SEQUENCE OF TSERING AT HOME WITH HER YOUNG DAUGHTER HAVING BREAKFAST.

NARRATION: Separation from family is an integral part of every day life for exiles. Family members are typically scattered throughout India, Tibet and Nepal. Separated by mountain ranges, political borders and thousands of miles. Families like Tsering’s, struggle to stay united spiritually, while they are divided geographically.

TSERING LHAMO VO & ON CAMERA: In 1990, my husband was transferred here. He was working for the Tibetan government and I was alone three and a half years. I had to leave and join my husband here. Then again he had to leave and he said I’m going to Dharamsala to find a job. It’s very difficult for me to continue to be like that. It’s not easy for us to go and see each other any time we want, you know, it’s expensive.

We have two children; one daughter is with my husband and I’m with the other daughter here.

TSERING LHAMO VO: He’s a person that he wants always to serve the Tibetan government, because we are brought up by Tibetan government. We both are orphans. His father was also killed by Chinese.

COMBING DAUGHTERS HAIR

TSERING LHAMO VO: So these are the challenges that we have to face. I don’t want to leave this job; at the same time I have to be with my family. It’s tough, yeah.

1:29:35:11

TSERING HELPS HER DAUGHTER GET READY FOR SCHOOL

TSERING VO and ON CAMERA: I really wanted to go back and see my sister who’s living in Tibet. Of course this has been my dream all through my life, before I die or before my sister dies. I really want to go back. I always pray; if not, my children should go back to Tibet. This is always I feel... Being a refugee is very difficult... yeah.

MUSIC UP

TSERING WALKS HER DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL

NARRATION: When family members are divided from each other, the bond between exiles who are close at hand grows stronger.

On her day off from helping the new refugees, Nurse Tsering Lhamo visits the public hospital to assist Tibetans who are without a family to care for them.

TSERING ENTERS THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL

TSERING LHAMO VO: I had a case, a young Tibetan suffering from tuberculosis. He’s a homeless person, you know, it was just terrible, he’s only 39, looks like a 56 year old man, you know? So I brought him to Phatan Hospital straight away and I asked social service and I said please, can you take care of him? And as far as his hospital billing, everything concerned, you know, we will arrange something.

1:31:03:11

TSERING TALKS WITH PATIENT (IN TIBETAN)

ENGLISH SUBTITLES:

Are you feeling any worse then you did when I first brought you here?

No, but I have lost weight.

Oh, yes, yes.

TSERING LHAMO VO & On Camera: Now he’s been here for 5 days. So now they’re thinking to discharge him but he, this poor fellow, has got no house to go and the condition looks so terrible. How can they discharge such a patient from the hospital?

SUBTITLED TRANSLATION OF TSERING TALKING WITH NURSE (IN NEPALI)

ENGLISH SUBTITLES:

TSERING LHAMO: Please keep him here for on or two more days.

I’ve spoken to the doctor.

I need some time to find him a place to go.

NURSE: Pressure. Put pressure here.

TSERING LHAMO: You have to help him please!

(in English) Thank you.

DISSOLVE TO: TSERING LOBBYING NURSES IN HALLWAY

I asked them to at least give him a special diet that if the hospital can’t provide, I’m willing to pay. I have to talk to the doctor concerned, he’s around.

MUSIC CUE:

SLO-MO - TSERING WAITING FOR DOCTOR IN HALLWAY

TSERING TALKING TO DOCTOR: Namaste doctor. I’m the one who brought him here and I would like to know how is his condition and what are your future planning?

DOCTOR: We’ll go look at him.

TSERING & DR. IN PATIENT'S ROOM TO REVIEW CHART

SUBTITLED TRANSLATION OF ATTENDING DOCTOR: Right now he’s improved a lot since he came here... and he needs to be discharged. He’s ready today.

TSERING: No, sorry, doctor, he doesn’t have a relative and he’s a homeless person, so I want to request you to keep him here at least a day or two because he’s got nobody in Kathmandu. We would be very grateful.

DOCTOR: No problem.

TSERING: Thank you so much... Thank you.

DOCTORS LEAVE ROOM

TSERING TALKS WITH PATIENT (IN TIBETAN):

ENGLISH SUBTITLES

I’ve arranged for you to stay here for a few more days so don’t worry.

I’ll contact the Tibetan women’s Association and arrange for a place where you can stay when you’re released. And I’ll be here when you’re released, OK? Stay well and don’t worry.

NEW MUSIC -

TSERING WALKING THROUGH HOSPITAL CORRIDORS

1:33:23:15

NEW MUSIC -

Kathmandu street scenes

Cut to:

TSERING IN CLINIC, TREATING EXILES

TSERING LHAMO VO: Sometimes during the winter time it’s overwhelming. I don’t get time to take a rest or give some time to my family also.

To be able to do something for others, you have to give up something.

NEW MUSIC -

DISSOLVE TO: MONKS WALKING UP HILL

NARRATION: For Tsering and her patients and nearly all Tibetan exiles, the separation from their families is the hardest part of leaving their homeland.

Ngawang Ugyen managed to find a home for himself in Nepal, which neighbors Tibet to the south and has historically sheltered Tibetan exiles.

DISSOLVE TO:

NGAWANG UGYEN making water offering

GRAPHIC: NGAWANG UGYEN THUPTEN, CHOLING MONASTERY

NGAWANG UGYEN IN TIBETAN (With English Translation):

Tibet was my home land, the place where my family lived for generations. Since the Chinese took control of Tibet I haven’t felt like a whole person. It was so unbearable that I escaped and came to Nepal and helped to rebuild the monastery.

1:34:54:23 DISSOLVE TO: Historic footage of Tibet

NGAWANG UGYEN IN TIBETAN (With English Translation):

When the Communists came to Tibet from China, they gave lectures about how Tibetans were tied by the feudal system and needed to be liberated. They encouraged people to rebel against the upper classes. My family was considered wealthy because we owned a farm. When the Communist regime started redistributing wealth, we decided to flee. But I was captured and brutally interrogated for five days. Then I was subjected to five months of reeducation and told to go out into the villages to spread the Communist ideology and proclaim that everyone was equal now. When I was finally

set free, I immediately escaped and made it safely to Nepal.

DISSOLVE TO: Thupten Choling monastery

NGAWANG WASHES & BRUSHES TEETH

NGAWANG UGYEN IN TIBETAN (With English Translation): Becoming a monk was a great help in recovering from the trauma of losing my family and my country.

By the grace of the Rimpoche, the Dalai Lama and the Nepalese government I can lead a peaceful existence here.

1:36:37:07

DISSOLVE TO: NGAWANG TEASING YOUNG MONKS

NGAWANG UGYEN: My sense of humor about life in general comes from studying the Dharma. Nothing is permanent and whatever happens is because of my past karma so there’s no point in complaining about it.

I feel very content here at the monastery. This is the place where I contemplate life, death and the futility of owning material things.

Life is very short compared to the whole of existence.

MONKS CHANTING IN MONASTERY

NEW MUSIC CUE -

DISSOLVE TO:

GRINDING BARLEY AND OUTDOOR PRAYER MONTAGE

1:38:27:25

GRAPHIC: NGAWANG SANGPO, THUPTEN CHOLING MONASTERY

NGAWANG SANGPO IN TIBETAN (ENGLISH Translation): In the past, monks from Nepal would come to our monastery in Tibet for religious studies. Now, our monastery in Nepal has become an important center of Buddhist teaching.

In Tibet there are very few monasteries left and they’re mostly just for show.

DISSOLVE TO: MANI RIMDU FESTIVAL

NGAWANG SANGPO (ABBOT): At our sister monastery in Tibet, there are only 13 monks and nuns that remain. They are not allowed to read freely from the scriptures and there’s no teacher for them, so they can’t really learn anything.

Here in Nepal we’ve been able to preserve our religious traditions.

NGAWANG UGYEN Translation: Tibetan Buddhism has certainly taken root here. Twenty years ago there was only one monastery. Now there are many more. Today, even foreigners have become aware of Tibetan Buddhism and they are beginning to study our sacred texts. Because of this we feel that Tibetan culture will continue to flourish.

1:39:50:00

DISSOLVE TO: NGAWANG OUTSIDE HIS HOME @ SUNSET

NGAWANG UGYEN (OLDER MONK) Translation: There’s a large number of Tibetan community outside Tibet who are waiting, hoping and have dreams of going back to Tibet.

NEW MUSIC CUE-

DISSOLVE TO: KATHMANDU SCENES

NARRATION: Recently the Nepalese government has looked less favorably on Tibetans due to economic and political pressures from China.

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO: As much as Tibetans have become successful in Nepal, many have built homes and businesses, still I don’t think anyone completely feels at ease as we do here in the the west.

As a Tibetan living in America I have complete faith and comfort that I have rights, that I’m stable here, the country itself is stable. Nepal, being next door to China, the Tibetans never feel completely comfortable.

SHOTS OF SNAKE CHARMER

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO: One pervasive feeling was this great fear that Nepal would be conquered by China. It’s the next little country and if Tibet went why not Nepal?

The other is the political climate of Nepal. The communist party became very strong and there was this fear of unrest and being the guests.

And that, I know, is one of the biggest reason my father and mother left, because they didn’t want to escape again.

1:41:41:01 MUSIC UP WITH SCENES OF KATHMANDU SUNSET

TSETEN PHANUCHARAS VO: What really keeps me going and wanting to do more is knowing what’s happening. And I think that drives whatever level of activism that I engage in.

GRAPHIC: TSETEN PHANUCHARAS, L.A. Friends of Tibet

(TSETEN On Camera:) This constant reminder that I cannot forget where I came from because it’s not just about my life.

MUSIC CHANGE

Dissolve to:

Los Angeles Montage - then - Friends of Tibet meeting

TSETEN VO: The Friends of Tibet in Los Angeles originally started out by a group of us coming together to put on the International Year of Tibet in 1991. That year was devoted towards raising awareness of just where Tibet is and what is a Tibetan.

TSETEN On Camera: I don’t know if there were like 40 Tibetans altogether, half of which was my family at that time.

NEW MUSIC CUE - YEAR OF TIBET PROGRAM & PHOTO’S

TSETEN VO: Amazingly we put on a pretty good show.

From this group we said hey, we did this really well, let’s continue and called ourselves the Los Angeles Friends of Tibet.

TRANSITION TO PROTEST RALLY

GRAPHIC: Tenzing Chonden, North American Representative, Tibetan Government in Exile

Tenzing Chonden: Your actions today will give them hope... much needed hope... because that’s all they have... nothing else.

TSETEN VO: And my brother, Tenzing Chandon, was one of the key people. He is one of the board members of Orange County Friends of Tibet.

TSETEN On Camera: So we really needed every member of the family to help. Some marched, others provided food. So it was just that kind of a group effort.

1:43:39:21

NEW MUSIC CUE –

GRAPHIC: MARCH FOR TIBETAN INDEPENDENCE LOS ANGELES, JULY 2000

SYNCH SOUND: Free Tibet - Free Tibet. Free Tibet - Free Tibet.

TSETEN VO: We’ve really been able to attract a very dedicated group of people. We’ve done fund raising, we’ve helped to sponsor programs for Tibetan refugees in exile, but at the same time what we have done is to raise the level of awareness.

MUSIC SEQUENCE - PROTEST MARCH NEWPORT BEACH

TSETEN On Camera: We have a really unique opportunity in L.A. to do this. You couldn’t do this in some other city because it does not have the high profile media activity.

TSETEN & ASSISTANT MEDIA COORDINATOR @ RALLY

TSETEN On Camera: Who else is coming today.

ASSISTANT: OK, well, we definitely have CNN, we definitely have AP, and LA Times of course is sending somebody, definitely.

TSETEN: OK. What we’re gonna do is head back out and...(fade under)

TSETEN VO and On Camera: This is the culture, whether you like it or not... instead of having Lamas like we do in Tibet, that everybody respects and pays attention to, we have celebrities and somehow people think that when a celebrity believes something, that is more meaningful than when an ordinary person does, and given that that is the fact, I welcome whatever support they are willing to give.

1:45:36:01

CROWD AT WASHINGTON, DC RALLY

RICHARD GERE: I’m myself extraordinarily humbled by what they have been through and what they have learned by their experiences.

(CROWD SHOUTS - APPLAUSE)

GRAPHIC: RICHARD GERE, ACTOR

And what’s interesting, at the end of the day of their experiences, it hasn’t made them harder, it hasn’t made them more angry, it hasn’t made them more stiff and impenetrable, more armored... it’s made them more loving, more open, more willing to compromise, more peaceful, more embracing... (GERE’S SPEECH FADES UNDER).

TSETEN VO: Some of the core supporters have been there for 20 years and that’s a long time, and I don’t see them losing interest. Maybe some people come and go but the people who truly care hang around.

RICHARD GERE: All of these actions, all of these thoughts that are from an open hearted, compassionate point of view, from an altruistic point of view, which are designed to help other people... it can’t help but eventually come to fruition.

PROTEST MARCH IN FRONT OF WHITE HOUSE

No human rights - No trade! China, out of Tibet! China, out of Tibet! Stop the killing - in Tibet! Stop the killing - in Tibet!

No human rights - No trade!

GRAPHIC: WASHINGTON, DC

MUSIC & SCENES OF DC RALLY

TSETEN VO: The Smithsonian Institute had a Folk Life Festival that highlighted Tibetan culture. The amazing thing to me about it was the fact that they picked such a small minority. In the U.S. there are just a few thousand Tibetans.

FESTIVAL IMAGES - MONKS CHANTING & AUDIENCE

TSETEN VO: Many people who previously did not have a chance to know about Tibetan culture had a chance to experience it.

1:47:26:29

EDDIE VEDDER MUSIC

MONTAGE OF SMITHSONIAN FOLK LIFE FESTIVAL

TSETEN VO: All the members of my family went to Washington, D.C. because we were so excited about it, to get together with hundreds and thousands of Tibetans from all over the U.S. and other countries, that we could all gather in this one spot. And, of course you can’t have a Tibetan gathering without a demonstration.

GROUP SINGING TIBETAN FOLK SONG

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES SCROLL ACROSS SCREEN

TSETEN VO: We had a big rally against the World Bank, which was about to give China a loan to relocate Chinese from western China into Tibet.

There were also demonstrations right in front of the World Bank. The Students for a Free Tibet organized a group of people that spent 24-hours a day ‘till the World Bank had their meeting.

GROUP SINGING TIBETAN FOLK SONG

BANNER HANG AND RALLY AT WORLD BANK

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES SCROLL ACROSS SCREEN

Tseten VO: The World Bank President had never received so many letters and faxes in relation to any other project.

Even though the Bank had perviously agreed to loan China the money, they said, we will have to restudy this, at which point China said, We don’t want your money.

MARCHERS HUG BANNER HANGERS

EDDIE VEDDER MUSIC UP FULL:

MONKS CHANT

1:49:36:21

DISSOLVE TO: MUSICAL MONTAGE - CANDLE LIGHTING IN FRONT OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT & CONGRESS

TSETEN VO: There was a great deal of symbolism in the Smithsonian putting on this Tibet festival.

When it was first announced, the Chinese made major protests against the United States government. As a matter of fact, several of the sponsors reneged on their commitments as the Chinese used their pressure. So the fact that the U.S. government and the Smithsonian put it on anyway, over Fourth of July weekend, and I think symbolically the Dalai Lama being able to speak on that weekend, in the National Mall – all of the American symbolism; Martin Luther King, you know, all the freedom fighters spoke there – and he was able to speak at the same time, really meant

(On Camera) something and I’m sure that it was not lost on the Chinese.

MUSICAL MONTAGE OF CANDLE LIGHTING (CONTINUED)

1:51:08:19

DISSOLVE TO:

MONTAGE OF MONKS CHANTING ON BIG SCREEN

GRAPHIC:ANTHONY A. WILLIAMS, MAYOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: It’s my pleasure to introduce a man who has played a tremendous part teaching us our part in promoting justice, in promoting equality and promoting peace. Please welcome to the nation’s capitol, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. (APPLAUSE)

DALAI LAMA (Speaks in English - also subtitled): I want to communicate with you as another human brother, as a human being. You see, we are the same, basically, we are the same human being. So, all sentient beings have the same desire. To overcome suffering, and to achieve happy life.

I think the very foundation of our existence is our hope. Where there is hope, yes, we survive. Once we’ve lost our hope, then very survival becomes difficult. So please, now, important, let us be nice human beings. Warm hearted human being so that we individually also become a more happy person. That’s our goal, that’s our basic right, and that way we can make a contribution for a transformation of the better human society, better human beings.

1:53:07:29 CROWD APPLAUDS

TSETEN VO and On Camera: If people really heard His Holiness, The Dali Lama’s message and practiced it even a little, it would go a long way towards ending some of the suffering that’s happening in the world today. Because he does teach compassion. He always says “my Chinese brothers and sisters.” I have never heard him say a negative thing about the Chinese; he always feels sorry for them, for what they might have gone through to make them do what they’re doing.

AUDIENCE SHOTS

DALAI LAMA: Now lastly, a few words in Tibetan, towards an audience not here.

SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH

We are here in the Capital of this great country of America - a country of democracy, freedom, and law - celebrating a grand festival depicting and protecting the culture of our Tibet.

Tibet is currently passing through a difficult time, but truth is on our

side. When you have truth, then you’ll have more and more friends. Even among our Chinese brothers and sisters, there is now a deeper understanding and appreciation of the truth of the Tibetan cause... If we look at the broader side of things, we find that the truth of our Tibetan cause is becoming globalized, more prominent, clearer.

Therefore, it’s important that all of us walk with devotion and a pure mind, and remain united, as before. Changes are taking places in so many different directions and that gives us hope that a day of auspiciousness and good fortune is not far off, when Tibetans, living both inside and outside of Tibet, will be able to reunite.

Greeting to you all, tashi-delek.“

1:55:07:21 AUDIENCE SHOTS

TSETEN VO and On Camera: The one thing that I think the Chinese government is totally is baffled by is the feeling, the reverence and affection that Tibetans have for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is something they will never understand and it is something that they will, I believe, never be able to eradicate from the hearts of Tibetans.

(APPLAUSE) DALAI LAMA RAISES HIS HANDS IN PRAYER AND BOWS TO AUDIENCE , TSETEN AND AUDIENCE RISE AND APPLAUD -

Dalai Lama: Thank you.

DISSOLVE TO:

MONTAGE - CANDLES AND OTHER TIBETAN IMAGES

CREDITS

In Memorium

Dr. Gil Roberts (1984 – 2000)

Producer/Director/Editor

Will Parrinello

Co-Producer/Writer

John Antonelli

Director of Photography

Andrew Black

Production Coordinator/Translator

Tsering Rhitar

Narrator

Peter Coyote

Translation Voice Over

Losang Gyatso

Michael Tucker

Additional Photography

David Lent, Will Parrinello, Christopher McLeod, Jim Iacona

1:57:10:15

(CREDIT ROLL BEGINS)

Associate Producer

Tsedo

Sound Recordists

Asheesh Pandya

David Charnow

Graphic Design

Kara Adanalian, Acme Graphics

After Effects Designers

Susan Arnot

Todd Miro

Sound Mix

Will Parrinello

Sound Sweetening

Leroy Clark, Sirius Sound

Rob Dickson, Command Productions

Additional Editing

John Antonelli

Assistant Editor

Johanna Harmon

Assistant Director

Samtosh Namgyal

Production Assistant

Amy Knicely

Advisors

Erica Stone

Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari

Orville Schell

Additional Footage

Bureau du Tibet/Paris, Earth Image Films, Granada Visual, The International Campaign For Tibet, The National Archives, The Office of Tibet/New York,

The Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Students for a Free Tibet, Thubten Dhargye Ling.

Music Consultation and Licensing

Amiel Morris/Illumination Entertainment

Major Funding

American Himalayan Foundation

Nancy Kittle & Nu Lambda Trust

Bernard Osher & Bernard Osher Foundation

Kanbar Charitable Trust

Marin Arts Council

The Mountain Grant program of the Banff Centre

Friends

Yolanda & William Rosoff

Peter Takeuchi

Erica Stone

Hal Silen

Jeffery & Jeanne Littleboy

Maggie Kaplan

Rosanne DeLuca Braun

Deborah Garcia

Scottie “Bone” & Becky Frazier

Judi Green

Roy & Trice Bonney

Toni Brayer, MD

Special Thanks

Richard Blum

Norbu Tenzing Norgay

Rhinchen Dharlo, The Tibet Fund

John Hocevar & Lhadon Tethong, Students for a Free Tibet

The Staff of Malla Treks, Kathmandu

The Staff of the Utse Hotel, Kathmandu

Ernie & Marc Siegler

David Agger

Steve Barbaria, Tackett-Barbaria Design

Philip, Shea, Paul, Carly and Isabella Sorensen

Jessica Abbe

Malinda Maynor

Charlie Weber

Amy Head

Mike & Aurora Rice

Frank Black

Extra Special Thanks

Tsering Wangmo Dhompa

Wangyal Lama, Chairman Lodrik Welfare Fund

Paljorling Tibetan Refugee Camp

Samdup Lhatse, Ex-Representative of the Dalai Lama, Nepal

Tenzin Tethong

Kesang Tseten

Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen

Robin Hart

Kate B. Littleboy

Bob Xavier

Susan Burgess-Lent

Jon Fontana

Catherine Singstadt & Seth Dickerman

Thomas Bruchs, Dolby Labs

Michael Becker, e-Motion Studios

Scott Roche, Coupe Studios

Scott Dwyer, KQED-TV

Steve Opson, KCSM-TV

Arlene Samen, One Heart

Dave Wendlinger

Gianfranco Savio, Biordi Art Imports

John Woods, Catfish Corner, Horn Lake, MS

Molly Irani, Wild Dog Productions

Vassi Koutsaftis

Lou DiFruscio

Music

“Reting’s Eyes”

Philip Glass

Touchstone Pictures Music & Songs, Inc. (ASCAP)

Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc.

“Fish”

Philip Glass

Touchstone Pictures Music & Songs, Inc. (ASCAP)

Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc.

“Chinese Invade”

Philip Glass

Touchstone Pictures Music & Songs, Inc. (ASCAP)

Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc.

“All She Can Carry”

Jami Sieber, Lush Mechanique CD

“Dancing at the Temple Gate”

Jami Sieber, Lush Mechanique CD

“Daybreak”

Jami Sieber, Lush Mechanique CD

“The Darkening Ground”

Jami Sieber, Lush Mechanique CD

“Invisible Wings”

Jami Sieber, Lush Mechanique CD

“Long Past Gone”

Jami Sieber, Second Sight CD

“Opening - Mix 2”

Jami Sieber, & Paula Stentz

From the soundtrack “Jews & Buddhism”

“Surrender”

Jami Sieber, Lush Mechanique CD

“The Goat’s Earth”

Jami Sieber, Second Sight CD

“Follow”

Richie Havens

“Kyema Mimin”

Choying Drolma and Steve Tibbetts, Cho CD

“Kyamdro Semkye”

Choying Drolma and Steve Tibbetts

Compositions by Steve Tibbetts, Choying Drolma

“Kangyi Tengi”

Choying Drolma and Steve Tibbetts

Composition by Steve Tibbetts, Choying Drolma

“Om Mani Padme Hung”

Yungchen Lhamo

Composition by Yungchen Lhamo, Sony/ATC Songs LLC (BMI)

“The Truth Will Always Be”

Pat Metheny

“Karuna”

Nawang Khechog

“Peace in the World”

Nawang Khechog

(P) 1994 New World Productions

“Tibet”

Nawang Khechog

“Eastern Girl”

Waterbone Tibet

Written by Jimmy Waldo and D. Kendall Jones

“Pujari Vision”

Waterbone Tibet

Written by Jimmy Waldo and D. Kendall Jones

“Tantra”

Waterbone Tibet

Written by Jimmy Waldo and D. Kendall Jones

“Make Tomorrow”

Peter Gabriel/Paul Buchanan/Liz Fraser/Richie Havens

“The Long Road”

Eddie Vedder/Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan

Main content

Dreaming of Tibet

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Main credits

Other credits

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