Dreaming Lhasa (2005) Reviews

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A Tibetan-American filmmaker seeking to capture the tales of former political prisoners on film is drawn into the plight of Tibet's exile community in this drama from filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam. Though she currently hails from New Your City, Karma (Tenzin Chokyi Gyatso) is one-hundred-percent Tibetan by blood. Upon arriving at the Indian border town of Dharamsala that is currently occupied by a number of Tibetan exiles, Karma makes the acquaintance of ex-monk Dhondup (Jampa Kalsang), who has fled from Tibet after fighting against the government. Soon embarking on a journey with Dhondup to seek out the missing Loga (Phuntsok Namgyal Dhumkhang) and deliver to him a treasured charm box, Karma finds herself immersed in Tibetan Buddhist culture and forming a close bond with a handsome young Tibetan adventurer named Jigme (Tenzin Jigme). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Starring:: Jampa Kalsang, Tenzin Chokyi Gyatso, (more)

Director(s):: Ritu Sarin, Tenzing Sonam, (more)

Format(s):: DVD
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(2 member reviews)

Member Reviews

	Michael W.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Since I am interested in Tibetan culture and TIbetan Buddhism, I wanted to like this movie. However, the plain truth is that it is boring. The description of the movie leads you believe there might be some intrigue, or struggle pertaining to Tibetans returning to the now Chinese-controlled Tibet. But in actuality, the movie has virtually no intrigue and the plot is so thin it makes you wonder how this screenplay was considered good enough to even be made into a film. Basically the story is about a woman who helps a man find a Tibetan monk who had been involved in the struggle against the Chinese and is now in hiding, so they can give him a little box that was once his. So they mostly walk around [yawn] and talk to people to get clues as to his whereabouts. I'll let you guess as to the ending, I'll only say that the ending was the only good part of the movie; I only wish it had not taken me so long to get to it. So what does this movie have going for it? Nothing.

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	Brad H.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

My immediate reaction is that I have no way to rate the acting of the character. Their actions seem more realistic than the extremes that can be associated with western acting styles. The entertainment value of the movie is mainly the journey taken by Karma and Dhondup.That said, the movie does present a place and environment for which many viewer may not be familiar. The subject of Tibet, although in the media, is not a subject that I feel very informed about. From that standpoint, the movie take the viewer to a place of significance; a place the viewer may never experience first hand. So, if you have ever wonder about Tibet, this movie offers a glimpse in to the human costs that political upheavals and the strength of the human to use hope to resist same political oppression..

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