It took director Tom Peosay 10 years to make this documentary.
The film covers Tibet’s history and focuses mostly on its occupation by China in the last 50 years.
It is clear from the beginning that the makers of this movie side with those calling for a free Tibet. Chinese officials who are interviewed about Tibet come across like cigarette company executives who for years claimed cigarettes were not bad for your health.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/YsiEluJFsO8" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]According to the film, the Chinese government is trying to assimilate the Tibetan population by sending ethnic Han to the region much in the same way it has done in Xinjiang with the Uygur people.
Some of the more powerful segments of the documentary show people who had been imprisoned for years and the torture devices that were used on them during their incarceration.
“Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion” also prominently features the Dalai Lama and his presence buoys the film. His call for nonviolent protest against Chinese occupation is powerful and inspiring.
This film reveals the natural beauty of Tibet and the colorful pageantry of Tibetan tradition.
Peosay does a wonderful job of mixing first person testimonials with accounts and analyses of Tibet experts.
The narration and voiceovers are done by such Hollywood stars as Ed Harris, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, and Martin Sheen.
While its call for a free Tibet is obvious and heavy handed, this film is worth seeing.
“Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion,” which runs 104 minutes, is available on DVD.
Murphy can be reached at: [email protected]
