Film on Tibet refugees settled in India to premiere at TIFF
: While recent refugee crises have impacted global politics, another from the last century is gradually being forgotten by the world.
Now, a film that will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival will serve as a reminder of the exodus of Tibetans, one that still continues, as their homeland was annexed by China in 1950.
The Sweet Requiem is a joint India-US production from filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, based in Dharamsala, the seat of Tibet’s government-in-exile.
That Toronto boasts of a sizeable Tibetan diaspora bolsters its attraction as a venue for the screening.
The film is mainly in the Tibetan language, and set largely within the community settled in Delhi. Its fulcrum is 26-year-old Dolkar and her life as a refugee, counterpointed with flashbacks to the perilous journey she undertook as a child, along with her father, leaving her mother and sister behind, to flee Tibet and find sanctuary elsewhere.
TIFF’s artistic director Cameron Bailey said, “You see the period in India and the nuances of the social milieu there and the story of leaving as well. It’s quite a powerful story and I think they’re doing something quite remarkable.”
The film’s protagonist is played by newcomer Tenzin Dolker, who had no prior acting experience but carries the movie with a subtle but potent performance.
“Finding the right character to play Dolkar was crucial. She did a little audition and we realised she had the potential,” Sonam said.
Obviously, the filmmakers couldn’t shoot in Tibet, given how politically charged their project was. Instead, Ladakh substituted for the rugged landscape of Tibet. Sarin said filming there was “quite difficult”, given the altitude of about 15,000 feet.
But they were also fortunate: Snow was required for certain scenes and after eight years, there was sufficient snowfall to meet their requirement.