Spirit of Tibet is a video documentary exploring urgent issues concerning the preservation of Tibetan culture, as a generation of elders are passing away in exile, and the Chinese authorities in Tibet continue to repress the traditional culture. The story is told through the experiences of Tsering Wangmo, an accomplished singer and dancer who was raised in a Tibetan refugee settlement in India and emigrated to the US. The film focuses on the rich traditions of the Kongpo people of southern Tibet and the integral role that song and dance play in their lives; and how the women in particular have kept the traditions alive despite extreme hardship and cultural changes resulting from the Chinese occupation and resettlement in India. Through interviews with Tsering’s mother and other elders, through Tsering’s own work as a performer, teacher, and advocate, and through her relationship with her own daughter born in America, we follow an inspirational story of how individual women’s strength and the joy of the performing arts are changing the course of history.

Spirit of Tibet

We have collected about fifteen hours of footage shot over a period of ten years in the refugee settlements in India and in the U.S, documenting rare Tibetan ceremonies, performances, interviews, and daily life. The footage has been reviewed and some rough edits have been made. We need to translate interviews conducted in Tibetan, develop the script, shoot some additional interviews, record narration, and edit the final version.

Tsering Wangmo’s voice-over narration and her focal role in the story will provide a point of view to personalize, unify, and guide the viewer through the material. As an accomplished performer and passionate spokesperson, she has a strong screen presence that carries over into the more intimate portrayal in her roles as daughter and mother.

Tsering with two women in Tibetan refugee camp

The historical background will be woven in through the elders’ interviews and illustrated with still images and archival footage. Although this is not a performance documentary, it is enlivened by traditional music and dance performances captured in a variety of settings, from community celebrations and daily working life in the refugee settlements.

The elders were brought to San Francisco to perform dances and music from the Kong Po region. Because of this, an interest was awakened in Tibetan youngsters to learn the traditions of music and dance performance from Tsering and the elders.

Elders visiting San Francisco to perform