Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2002)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Tom Piozet

Writers:

Victoria Mudd (writer)
Sue Peosay (writer)

Release Date:

12 September 2003 (Canada)

Genre:

Documentary | History

Tagline:

Behind the secrets... Beyond your imagination... An unforgettable epic of courage and compassion.

Plot:

A film about the state of Chinese occupied Tibet and its history of oppression and resistance.

Plot Keywords:

Tibet | Monk | Culture | Self Immolation | Political Oppression

Cast

Edward Edwards	...	Tibetan Voiceovers
Ed Harris	...	Tibetan Voiceovers
Shirley Knight	...	Tibetan Voiceovers
Tim Robbins	...	Tibetan Voiceovers
Susan Sarandon	...	Tibetan Voiceovers
Martin Sheen	...	Narrator (voice)

Runtime:

USA:104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

India

Company:

Earthworks Films

Goofs:

Factual errors: Buddha was not born in India as mentioned in the documentary , instead he was born in Lumbini, a territory of Nepal.

Interesting perspective

One reviewer from Canada points out the "spiritual bias" in this documentary but that should surprise no one. True, the platform of the film is pro-Dalai Lama and anti-PRC in perspective but I did not share the impression that pre-invasion Tibet was ever portrayed as a paradise. The fact is, in spite of the silly protestations of another reviewer who, in badly written English, chimes that no government has recognized Tibet, which smacks of a sneaky PRC propaganda insertion. But, let's not lose sight of the film while we're sounding our favorite political war drum. If you want serious ethnography, read Mel Goldstein's books and if you want a snapshot view of the plight of Tibet and the netherworld into which Tibetan ex-pats have been shoved, this is the one. Maybe I'm getting senile but I labored under no impression that this documentation of the Chinese invasion and occupation of a region wherein lived people of a distinctive language and culture would be wholly objective or dispassionate in scope. My treat was seeing some marvelous footage of some of the most barren places on the planet and some pictures of what has been going on. Like any other viewer, I did not enjoy the graphic depiction of abuse and torture but, in my view, it needed to be shown.

As one who loves to read the reviews as much as seeing the film, I must observe that most were impressed by what they saw. One could go on and on about the politics of it all, but from the standpoint of art, I think this little film was a winner. See it for yourself and decide.