A Toast to Life

Film on ordinary Tibetan lives and sorrows creates a buzz

On October 26, a movie telling a story about ordinary people in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region was on show throughout China. Sonthar Gyal, the Tibetan film director, created waves at the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival in June with his entry Ala Changso winning the jury grand prix and best screenplay awards.

“The areas where Tibetan ethnic groups live have beautiful natural scenery. But for me, who grew up there, I didn’t think the place to be mystical. Rather, I think what forms Tibetan culture is the people. We should care more about ordinary Tibetan people’s emotions and lives,” Sonthar Gyal told Beijing Review.

In contrast to traditional movies on Tibet, which display dazzlingly beautiful natural vistas such as snowy mountains, grasslands and lakes, as well as Tibetan architecture and local culture stereotypes, Ala Changso revolves round the characters’ psychology and emotions. The director deliberately chose cloudy days to shoot his film in order to minimalize the natural environment.

“The film is on serious topics, life and death. But we don’t want them to be the theme. So we used this title to give it warmth and hope,” said Liao Xi, producer of the film.

The director said the inspiration for the film came from a story told to him over dinner by his friend, singer Yungdrung Gyal, who plays a major role in the movie.

One of Yungdrung Gyal’s primary school-