Women of Tibet: A Quiet Revolution
Encyclopedia
Women of Tibet: A Quiet Revolution is a documentary film
directed and produced by Rosemary Rawcliffe
. The film premiered at the 2007 Mill Valley Film Festival
where it was awarded Official Selection and had its television release on PBS on April 12, 2008.
The film won an Emmy for Historic/Cultural - Program/Special on May 16, 2009.
and peace. The film first tells the story of the 15,000 unarmed Tibetan women who assembled on March 12, 1959 speaking out for peace, justice, and freedom in an expression of non-violent resistance in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, which sparked an uprising against China’s occupation of Tibet.
For the first time on film, three generations of Tibetan women and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
recount this story of survival and how these women have ultimately become architects and builders of the new Tibet in exile.
Ama Adhe Tapontsang recounts 28 years spent in prison and the faith that allowed her to survive as she teaches new generations of young refugees. Dolma Tsering Teykhang describes sacrifices her parents made as exiles so that she might become first a teacher and then a member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile in Dharamsala
, India, and Tseten Choeden Schneiter, born and raised in exile, ensures that her Tibetan birthright is passed on to her own children as she wrestles with a culture in transition.
After 50 years in exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama pays tribute to these women and their ability to keep their cultural legacy intact for generations to come.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed and produced by Rosemary Rawcliffe
Rosemary Rawcliffe
Rosemary Rawcliffe is a British filmmaker best known for her documentary trilogy, Women of Tibet, which she wrote, produced, and directed.-Career:...
. The film premiered at the 2007 Mill Valley Film Festival
Mill Valley Film Festival
The Mill Valley Film Festival is an annual, non-competitive film festival presented by the California Film Institute. Known as a filmmakers’ festival, the annual Mill Valley Film Festival offers a non-competitive environment for exhibiting independent and world cinema.Founded in 1978 by MVFF...
where it was awarded Official Selection and had its television release on PBS on April 12, 2008.
The film won an Emmy for Historic/Cultural - Program/Special on May 16, 2009.
Synopsis
A Quiet Revolution is the second film in the Women of Tibet trilogy of one-hour documentaries exploring the Buddhist values at the heart of Tibetan culture — compassion, nonviolenceNonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
and peace. The film first tells the story of the 15,000 unarmed Tibetan women who assembled on March 12, 1959 speaking out for peace, justice, and freedom in an expression of non-violent resistance in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, which sparked an uprising against China’s occupation of Tibet.
For the first time on film, three generations of Tibetan women and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
recount this story of survival and how these women have ultimately become architects and builders of the new Tibet in exile.
Ama Adhe Tapontsang recounts 28 years spent in prison and the faith that allowed her to survive as she teaches new generations of young refugees. Dolma Tsering Teykhang describes sacrifices her parents made as exiles so that she might become first a teacher and then a member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile in Dharamsala
Dharamsala
Dharamshala or Dharamsala is a city in northern India. It was formerly known as Bhagsu; it is the winter seat of government of the state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of the Kangra district....
, India, and Tseten Choeden Schneiter, born and raised in exile, ensures that her Tibetan birthright is passed on to her own children as she wrestles with a culture in transition.
After 50 years in exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama pays tribute to these women and their ability to keep their cultural legacy intact for generations to come.
Cast
- His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, as Himself
- Jetsun Pema, as Herself
- Rinchen Khando Choegyal, as Herself
- Ama Adhe Tapontsang, as Herself
- Dolma Tsering Teykhang, as Herself
- Tseten Choeden Schneiter, as Herself
Awards
- 2009 Northern California Emmy Awards - Historic/Cultural – Program/Special - Emmy
- 2008 29th Annual Telly AwardsTelly AwardsThe Telly Award is an award presented by the namesake, New York City-based organization. The stated purpose of the award is to "honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web." The...
- TV Programs Cultural & Documentary - 2 Silver Awards - 2008 29th Annual Telly Awards - TV Programs Cultural & Documentary - 2 Bronze Awards
- 2008 Moondance International Film FestivalMoondance International Film FestivalThe Moondance International Film Festival is an independent annual film festival and awards competition that takes place in the fall in Boulder, Colorado...
- Finalist - 2008 Non Violence International Film Festival - Official Selection
- 2008 Rwanda Human Rights Film Festival - Official Selection
- 2008 Asian American International Film FestivalAsian American International Film FestivalThe Asian American International Film Festival is an international film festival held annually during the summer in New York City to showcase the works of both emerging and experienced Asian and Asian American filmmakers and media artists across a diverse range of genres and...
- Official Selection - 2008 New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine FestNew Jersey Independent South Asian Cine FestEstablished in 2007, New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Fest is based in New Jersey and dedicated to South Asian independent films. The annual festival is produced by the Asian American Film and Theater Project, a 501 tax exempt US based non profit organization committed to the promotion,...
- Official Selection - 2008 Mount Shasta International Film Festival - Official Selection
- 2008 Kansas International Film Festival - Official Selection
- 2007 Mill Valley Film FestivalMill Valley Film FestivalThe Mill Valley Film Festival is an annual, non-competitive film festival presented by the California Film Institute. Known as a filmmakers’ festival, the annual Mill Valley Film Festival offers a non-competitive environment for exhibiting independent and world cinema.Founded in 1978 by MVFF...
- Official Selection
See also
- Women of Tibet: The Buddha's WifeWomen of Tibet: The Buddha's WifeWomen of Tibet: The Buddha's Wife is a documentary film directed and produced by Rosemary Rawcliffe. It is the third and final film in the Women of Tibet trilogy and is expected for release in 2011.-Synopsis:...
- Women of Tibet: Gyalyum Chemo - The Great MotherWomen of Tibet: Gyalyum Chemo - The Great MotherWomen of Tibet: Gyalyum Chemo - The Great Mother is a documentary film directed and produced by Rosemary Rawcliffe. The film premiered on May 28, 2006 at the Mountainfilm in Telluride Festival where it was awarded Official Selection...
- Tibetan Women's AssociationTibetan Women's AssociationThe Tibetan Women's Association ' is a women's association based in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India. The group was officially formed on September 10, 1984 in India, by Rinchen Khando Choegyal, a former Tibetan Youth Congress activist, although the group itself claims that a precursor was created in...
- Tibetan Parliament in Exile
- Tibetan Children's Villages
- Tibetan Nuns ProjectTibetan Nuns ProjectThe Tibetan Nuns Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and supporting nuns in India from all Tibetan Buddhist lineages.. It supports nuns interested in study and higher ordination.-History:...
- International Tibet Support NetworkInternational Tibet Support NetworkThe International Tibet Network, established in 2000, is a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations. Its purpose is to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement...